Humor dwells with sanity,
Truth, and common sense.
Humor is humanity,
Sympathy intense.
Humor always laughs with you,
Never at you; she
Loves the fun that’s sweet and true
And of malice free.
Paints the picture of the fad,
Folly of the day,
As it is, the good and bad,
In a kindly way.
There behind her smiling mien,
In her twinkling eyes,
Purpose true is ever seen,
Seriousness lies.
--JOHN KENDRICK BANGS, _Putnam’s Monthly_.
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