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.