A Smile

The gliding of a fairy form And rosy lips that knew no guile, With wonder parted, came to ask, "Papa, what is a smile?"

A smile, whate'er it is, then stole That gentle parent's features o'er; For ne'er to him had been proposed Query so strange before.

But while he pondered in his heart How he should to his child reply, A new, triumphant joy lit up Her loving, lustrous eye;--

And with this gladsome, new-found thought, She answered in her own behalf: "Oh, now, I know; a smile must be The whisper to a laugh!"