She smiled at a sorrowful stranger, 
The smile seemed to make him feel better. 
He remembered the past kindness of a friend 
And wrote him a kind thank-you letter. 

The friend was so pleased with the thank-you 
That he left a large tip after lunch. 
The waitress, surprised by the size of the tip, 
Bet the whole thing on a hunch. 

The next day she picked up her winnings 
And gave part to a man on the street. 
The man on the street was so grateful; 
For two days he'd had nothing to eat. 

After he finished his dinner, 
He left for his small dingy room. 
He didn't know at that moment 
That he might soon be facing his doom. 

On the way home he picked up a puppy 
And took him home to get warm. 
The puppy was so very grateful 
To be inside and out of the storm. 

That night the house caught on fire. 
The puppy barked out the alarm. 
He barked 'til he woke the whole household 
And saved everybody from harm. 

One of the boys that he rescued 
Grew up to be President. 
All this because of a small, simple smile 
That hadn't cost a cent.