In this terrarium lives a librarian
Spending her money at the grocery store
And there at the grocery store, out from the register
Comes a quarter that she's seen before

When she was young she carved a smile
On President Washington's jawbone
And that same quarter last touched her hand
When it bought her an ice cream cone

All those years just disappear
As she remembers watching
The man at the counter who took her quarter
And saw George Washington smiling

Back in her mind after all this time
Back in her hand is the memory
Back in her life is the childhood smile
Back from a lifelong journey

She carries the groceries with just one hand
One hand holds her childhood
Walking along by the ice cream store
That's boarded up with plywood

Back in her mind after all this time
Back in her hand is the memory
Back in her life is the childhood smile
Back from a lifelong journey

Safely locked in a jewelry box
The smile on the quarter is fading
Dead as a worthless drop of lead
Only alive in trading

So what can she do with a childhood smile
And what do you do with a treasure
Same as you do with the love you get
Give it away with pleasure

In this terrarium lives a librarian
Sending her quarter on a trip once more
Into the register goes the quarter
That shows George Washington smiling