The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-12-26
FUNERAL ADDRESS
" REV, A. 9. MCCONNELL
TO THE MEMORY OF
MRS. L. E. SMITH,
who died Dec. II, 1889.

The family moved to Beloit, Wis. when
She was q young girl. She attended
school at Beioit, Evansville Academy and
Rockford Seminary. She was married at
Beloit to Mr.. Lathrop E. Smith, Feb. IL,
1869. At BelOit, IN her eighteenth year,
She united with the Methodist church, the
church home OF her parents. The first
few wears OF their married lite Mr.. and
Mrs. Smith lived ct Burlington, Wis,
and there being no Methodist church
there then. she united with the COngre-
pati onal church, with which denOmina-
ton she retained her connection the re-
mainder OF her lite Returning to Be-
lott, she and her husband united with
the Congregational church there; bring
ing letters from that church to the Con.
preQational church Of CresC0, when they
settled here in 1874 Cresc0 has been
their home ever since.
To lay our friends away in tho grave
il ever q most sOrrowful task and painful
trial. This blow, however, has fallen up
on this family as gently as in the nature
of the case it was possible for such .
blow to fall. The shadow Of death crept
in very quietly, and in the shadow these
friends have been living day after day,
month after menth and year after year,
Their minds long rgo were prepared for
the inevitable, and when death came st
last they were not rudely alarmed. To
them in their great bereavement We, the
neichburs and friends Of the dead moth
er. extend our heartfelt sympathies. Il
"a indeed sad affection thSy have been
called to meet; but We bellels jp the
Father above who knows and pities all.
To the consultations Of His grace, and to
His tender keeping We commit them.
resting in the assurance that He is We.
r. present help in time Of trouble and
that they cannot drift far from His love
and care. May their wounded hearts be
keajel, pnd through these cypress trees
OF Gloom, may they see the stars OF hope
and faith, and be enabled ut last 70 say.
ut is veil: Gods will be done"
It is. Of least, we'll with her. She is be-
yond the reach OF pain. The long years
Of suffering are Of last ended. Hhe Is 81
home in that building OF God, the house
not made with hands, eternal in the heav'
ems, and her works do follow her.
Only 3 few days ago she sent tor me
and We had long talk-as long ae bel
feeble state would permit, She said
.When you come to my funeral | would
rather you would not speak in my praise
Speak to the living, not OF the dead
What you soy Of me will soon be forgot
ten. What yen say to the living may Dc
cool"
/ shall respect her wsbss a. Tar ~
can consistently do 90. Those Of y0t
who knew her we'll need no reminder o
her virtues, her kindness Of heart, be-
generous sympathies, her unselfsh devo
ton to her family and friends. How sh,
made hosts Of warm friends; how she q
managed the affairs Of her household ai
70 make her home attractive and delight
full; how carefully she WatcAed over these
children, guarding their moral, intellect
nal and spiritual interests; how hel
heart was ever open TO the cry OF need
how attached to her Christian faith, ye
50 generous toward all who differed from
her:-all these things may truthfully bt
said to her praise.
Several years ago, by q vote OF th.
Congregational church Of Cresco, Mrs
Smith was made deaconess, which Office
she continued to hold till her death
though debarred during these latsr years
on account Of her feeble health, from act
i've participation in the duties Of Ler Of
fice. When her strength permitted she
was faithful in her attendance at tbe
sanctuary, interested i. all church activi
ties, and, uutil her health failed, teach
or and worker in our Sunday school
She wus an earnest believer in the Cos
pei Of Jesus Chriet, and her daily wall
and conversation gave evidence that hel
religion was vital reality. With calm
ness, precision and clearness OF mind
sic gave her last directions. set her house
II order, and died in the triumphs Of the
Christian faith.
To speak, then, to the living: I am re.
minded Of the duties Of SICK people. 4
word on this subject will, trust, not be
deemed inappropriate on this occasion
Sickness and suffering are among the
hard facts OF thi, earthly life and it be.
comes us to meet them In the right spirit
Our friend, Mrs. Smith, though suffering
much during these recent years, al d new.
or strong at any time III her life, was moi
q murmurer and com lainer. There il q
right way and wrong way OF being sick
How many sick people there are who
grow morbid over their inflrMitie6, and
Who, IL you 80 to visit them, pour into
your ears prolonged description 0f their
maladies aud sufierines. You do not, as
rule, like to hear such recitatiOns. You
make all allowance and listen with pa.
thence, for you know how the hearts oi
distressed people reach out to other
hearts for sympathy.
But for q sick persOn--and indeed foi
any one sick or well-to grow into the
morbid habit Of continually talking about
bis discomforts and Affections 10 surel,
conducive neither to happiness nor to re.
overy from sickness. It is, / think, a
cious and useless habit. Our friends
commonly know how we are situated and
are ready to sympathlze without O com.
plete narrative OF our troubles. Besides
th4 habit Of complaining tends to discon.
tentment aud peevishness, thus lmpos
ing more OF Q burden On those who are
kindly caring for us. I think, then, that
II our doad friend could but hear me she
would pardon mo for saying she was a
model sick person. j..
Another thi.g she told me: che said
that though she had been sick SO long
and had SO many days OF suffering. she
hsd tired to be cheerful and had always
found something - laugh at. Now
verify believe that had 1t not been for
49,. quality Of seeing tho pleasant side Of
THINGS. -. - temperament that Was all
aclow with the sun. .'"e Ut cheerfnlness,
this seer, tn we are enacting ""ro t..
day would hays cen enacted long ago
Cheetfllness ID Cote v~n tonic. 10
sick PEOPLE the world leems Q4rk at
l.vRo ir.0A