[Ads-l] Poem Origin: It was only a sunny smile / And little it cost in the giving

ADSGarson O'Toole adsgarsonotoole at GMAIL.COM
Tue May 30 17:12:34 UTC 2023


Two individuals asked me to trace an expression implausibly attributed
to F. Scott Fitzgerald:

It was only a sunny smile, and little it cost in the giving, but like
morning light, it scattered the night and made the day worth living.

Here are links to my analysis:
Full: https://quoteinvestigator.medium.com/51441fb20d67
Abbrev: https://quoteinvestigator.com/2023/05/28/sunny-smile/

Fitzgerald died in 1896, and I found a match for the expression in
March 1893 within an anonymous poem titled "Only" published in "The
Western Teacher: A Monthly Journal for Progressive Teachers" of
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Here is the first verse:

[Begin excerpt]
It was only a sunny smile,
And little it cost in the giving;
But it scattered the night
Like morning light,
And made the day worth living.
Through life’s dull warp a woof it wove
In shining colors of hope and love;
And the angels smiled as they watched above.
Yet little it cost in the giving.
[End excerpt]

This poem has appeared in many publications, but I have been unable to
identify the author.

A poem communicating a similar idea about the uplifting nature of a
smile appeared in "The Capital" newspaper of Washington D.C. in 1871.

[Begin excerpt]
Only a tender smile, but it may part
And rift the clouds around a breaking heart,
Inspire with hope, lessen the stinging smart
Of false friends scorning.
[End excerpt]

Feedback and earlier citations would be welcome
Garson O’Toole

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org


More information about the Ads-l mailing list