Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Does It Pay?

If one poor burdened toiler o’er life’s road, 
Who meets us by the way, 
Goes on less conscious of his galling load, 
Then life, indeed, does pay.

If we can show the troubled heart the gain
That lies always in loss, 
Why, then, we too are paid for all the pain
Of bearing life’s hard cross.

If some despondent soul to hope is stirred, 
Some sad lip made to smile, 
By any act of ours, or any word, 
Then, life has been worth while.