Just Folks

The Roads of Happiness

          The roads of happiness are not
              The selfish roads of pleasure seeking,
            Where cheeks are flushed with haste and hot
              And none has time for kindly speaking.
            But they're the roads where lovers stray,
              Where wives and husbands walk together
            And children romp along the way
              Whenever it is pleasant weather.

            The roads of happiness are trod
              By simple folks and tender-hearted,
            By gentle folks that worship God
              And want to live their days unparted.
            There kindly people stop and talk,
              Regardless of the chase for money,
            There, arm in arm, the grown-ups walk
              And every eye you see is sunny.

            The roads of happiness are lined,
              Not with the friends of royal splendor,
            But with the loyal friends and kind
              That do the gentle deeds and tender.
            There fame has never brought unrest
              Nor glory set men's hearts to aching;
            There unabandoned is life's best
              For selfish love and money making.

            The roads of happiness are those
              That do not lead to pomp and glory
            But wind among the joys and woes
              That make the humble toiler's story.
            The roads that oft we used to tread
              In early days when first we mated,
            When hearts were light and cheeks were red,
              And days were not with burdens freighted.