She smiled at a sorrowful stranger.

The smile seemed to make him feel better. He remembered past kindnesses of a friend and wrote him a thank-you letter.

The friend was so pleased with the thank-you that he left a large tip after lunch.

The waitress, surprised by the size of the tip, bet the whole thing on a hunch. The next day, she picked up her winnings and gave part to a man on the street.

The man on the street was grateful; for two days he’d had nothing to eat. After he finished his dinner, he left for his small dingy room. (He didn’t know at that moment that he might be facing his doom). On the way, he picked up a shivering puppy and took him home to get warm.

The puppy was very grateful to be in out of the storm.

That night, the house caught on fire. The puppy barked in alarm. He barked ’til he woke the whole household and saved everybody from harm. One of the boys that was saved grew up to be a great President.

All this because of a simple smile that hadn’t cost a cent.
-Barbara Hauck