The Deathless Ray

Oh! happiness, that bright, winged ray, went darting blithely on its way.
It made a little baby smile, and then it skipped another mile,
And made a busy mother sing ; and then again it took to wing
And darted swiftly to a boy, filling his heart with youthful joy.
From thence, a weary man it found. To sorrow he'd been straitly bound;
But suddenly his heart felt light and all the world was fair and bright.
It darted further; here and there—around the world—just everywhere!
Right through a thousand hearts it went, and yet its strength was never spent.
This is a truth we should remember, through all the months, right to December,
And then the cycle round again : a ray of joy need never wane.
Our happiness we need not save ; the store will last us to the grave.
Give joy away ; it will return. A lovely lesson this to learn.