Age 22
First wife of L. Bertrand Smith

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Syracuse (NY) Standard
Thursday evening, September 23, 1886
Page 4, Column 1

Death of Mrs. L. Bertram Smith, nee Ladye Love Hall, died at her home in Fayetteville on Monday, aged 22 years. She was the second daughter of Mrs. T. K. Fuller, and her’s is the first vacant place in a family of eight children. Two weeks ago Mr. and Mrs. Smith moved into their new house in Fayetteville and Sunday last an infant daughter was born to them. The child is well and strong. The funeral of Mrs. Smith will be held at 3 p.m. to-day at Fayetteville, and the body will be clothed in the young wife’s wedding dress. She was very highly esteemed in a large circle of acquaintances.
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Obit for Ladye Love Hall Smith from a family scrapbook

Funeral of Mrs. L.B. Smith
The funeral services of Mrs. L. bertrand Smith were held at the residence on Genesee St. at three o'clock last Thursday afternoon. The new and beautiful house, fitted up with so much taste and care, and occupied as a home less than three weeks was filled to overflowing by a throng of sympathizing relatives and friends. A rich casket covered with white brocaded velvet held the remains, which were laid out, according to Mrs. Smith's desire, in her wedding dress.

The floral tributes were noticable for their richness and profusion. At the foot of the casket stood a beautiful floral harp from Mr. and Mrs. Platt Smith, at the head was a superb piece in the form of "Gates Ajar" contributed by the social club of which Mrs. Smith was a member. A very tasteful wreath was sent from Mr. E.B. Salmon of Syracuse, a near friend of Mr. Smith's, and married at about the same time. The young lady friends of the deceased presented a lovely basket of roses; and at the grave a profusion of elegant white and tea roses were strewn upon the casket by Mr. A.T. Armstrong, in behalf of himself and Mr. Fred Tibbitts, who were groomsmen at the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Smith in February of last year.

The funeral services were conducted by Rev. C.P. Osborne and Rev. A.C. Lyon, pastor's of the deceased and her husband, respectively. The scripture selections, remarks and prayer were especially designed to impart comfort to the afflicted friends and teach lessons of resignation. The singing, at the house and at the grave, was by a select quartette consisting of Mrs. E.F. hopkins, Miss Emily Rolfe, Mr. A.T. Armstrong, and Mr. W.T. Collin was very choice and impressive.

Among the incidents connected with the last few weeks of the life of Mrs. L.B. Smith are some which, in the light of subsequent events, have a significance almost prophetic.

Mrs. Smith had a pleasant way of cutting from the newspapers any dainty bit of prose or verse that pleased her and quietly folding it in her husband's pocketbook to be read at his leisure.

Among the choice pieces recently placed there, some had reference to various phases of domestic life, and in one of them was this paragraph:

"This affection is the chief source of sweetness of life; and when we pass through the wafers of death, next to the presence of our Savior, do we look for support to that others love, which shall cling to us still, and to those eyes full of tenderness and tears, which shall gaze after us until we touch the shining spehere.:

Then came a song and a lament, which stands in the most impressive contrast. The poem is anonymous and is entited:

A Song.
[By the head of the the household]

"Dark Is the Night and fitful and drearily
Rushes the wind like the waves of the sea!
Little Care I, as I sit here Cheerily,
Wife at my side and Babe at my Knee
King, King, Crown me the King
Home is the kingdom and Love is the King!

Flashes are the firelight upon the dear faces
Dearer and Dearer as onward we go
Forces and shadows behind us and places
Brightness around us with warmth in the Glow
King, King, Crown me the King
Home is the kingdom and Love is the King!

Richer than miser with perishing treasure
Served with a service no conquest can bring
Happy with fortune that words cannont measure
Light-hearted I on the hearth stone can sing
King, King, Crown me the King
Home is the kingdom and Love is the King!"

What a radiant picture is this, of the new home as it was to be, the beautiful new home just occupied with such high hopes and joyful anticipations.

Foldeded next to these verses was the lament by Robert J. Burdette, entitled:

Alone.

"Since she went home -
The evening shadows linger longer here
The winder days fill so much of the year
And even summer winds are chill and drear
Since she went home

Since she went home -
The Robin's note has touched a minor strain
The old glad songs breathe a sad refrain
and laughter sobs with bitter pain,
Since she went home

Since she went home -
How still the empty rooms her presence blessed
Untouched the pillow that her dear head pressed
My lonely heart hath nowhere for for its rest
Since she went home

Since she went home -
The long days have crept away like years
The sunlight has been dimmed with doubts and fears
And the dark nights have rained in lonely tears
Since She went home.

The exquisite pathos of these verses, so prophetic of the bereavement that has come cannot fail to touch every heart. But these verses signify not simply the breaking up of home, but the blessed possesion of a home where those whom death has separated are reunited and where unfading joy prevail. "Since She Went Home." The true home is above. The happiness of domestic life on earth is but a shadow of the joys of the heavenly home.

Note: obit is courtesy of Walt Smith

Note: Death date also seen as Jun 8 1864.