Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1833-07-22
ND TIMES.'
Fran lie Ciacinaaf Cl-sais'e.
THE COZ r rSTIlP AND MARRIAGE OF
THE ELDER ADAMS,

in he Town Of Weymouth, Norfolk eoua,y, Mns-
ssch ssc,ls. While there raticndei church ono
Sun Inv morning, 1t what called the oil Wcy-
r,cstn meeting house aud heard sermon from he
venerable pastor, she Rov Jacob Norton. Aboai
che same time. IN company with friend, male
Nj Norton visit, spent delightful hour with
him and hrs agreeable family, aud IN fact. bee .he
much interested in the old gentleman. mention
al my agreeable visit to an aged bu, inleli.en. la
DIV Of the parish, whose acquaintance had made.
This lady loved The church ns she did her own
sou ii was the place where she had heard from IN
fancy 10 advanced ags, the words ofeierna life,
ma il literally, 10 her the very gate Of heaven
Next 10 the church Itself In the scale of regards,
Wa, her reverend pastor, Mr. Norton.
Weymou,htis situated twenty thirty miles
north west OF oil Plymouth Rock, II was settled
ret long after our fofcfathcrs landed at the latter
place; and of course this church must be among
rho most ancient Of New England churches. This
ss,in.ahc old lady beguled me OF many delight
ful hour at different times in giving me the rad'-
tonary history and relating anecdotes Of the oil
clutch and its different pastors.
She informed me that Mr.. Norton was ordained
their pastor when about twenty one years Of nge,
and that he hadb with them, at tina, tlmc near
ly forty years She observed THAI most Of his pre-
sent Pensioners could remember no other pastor
but that she could we'll remember his predecessors,
she Rev. Mr.. Smith and that he and Mr.. Norton
had filled the pulni, for the better part of'he last
eighty years. " Mr.. Smith, SAID she" was We
w different man from Nj. Noron-un able man -
an cxcslIcn, mainland fine preacher bu, he hid
high notions of himself and fnm,ly--in Other
words that he was something Of an sristocrai"
One day she said ono, =" To illustrate to gu the
character ofod parson Smith, will tell you an
anccdote that relates to himself and some other per
.l,v,,a Gs,ttb had abar
dal, hloss--(th elder OF these daughters was Ma.
~, the Others name have forgoiten) who were
tie admiration Of all tho bcaux aud the envy OF
all the bellies OF the country around. Various sage
a1d deep dsquisitons wee had, by the wise ones
OF the parish on the dark question, who would
be the happy lads that should find favor in the
eyes If these ladies' 7 Bat while these careful
guardians OF the parsons family were holding CON
sultaton on The subject, ii was rumored that two
young lawyers q think both Of the neiglborng
town Of Quincy, MI. C,aneh AMI a Nh Adams
were paying their addresses to the Miss Smiths
As evory man, woman, and child, Of a country
parish in New England IS acquainted with what
ever iakes place inn parsons family, all the cir
cumstances Of the cour,sh,p soon tansp,red. Mr..
Crunch was member of q family Of some note,
was considered young man Of PROMISE and al
together worthy o. the alliance he sought lie
wasyery acceptable 10 Nh. Smith, aud was greet
ed By him and his family with grea, respect and
cord. Atty lie wns received by lie ulJcr jaugh-
s.r as favored loyer and was, IN fact young
man Of much responsibility. He aftera ards arose
to the dignity Of judge of the Common Pleas of
Massachusetts, and was the father Of the present
Hon Judge Cranch, of the D,s,ricl of Columbia.
The suitor Of The other daughter was John A
dlms, who afterwards became President, OF the U
ned States. But at that time, in the opinion
Of MI. Smith and family, lac gave but slender
promise of the distinction 10 winch he after
wards -.sined. His presensIons scornod at
by al the family exccptIn, I'M ,uu"s lady 10
whom his addresses were especially directed, Mr.
Snth shaved him none OF the ordinary civiltss
oil his house. he was moi asked to par,ekc of The
inequalities oftho table ard is reported that his
hnrse was doomed to share with his master the ne
gec1 and modification 10 which he was subjected,
for he was frequently seen shlyerne in the cold
md gnawiDg ihe post at The parSon door Of long
wint.r evenings In ire, II was reported that Mr.
Smith had ntln ,tcd 10 him that his visits un
acceptable, and he would do him favor 10y dlscon
tlnding thcmj he told his daughter that Jno Adams
was not worthy Of her that his father was an no
nest tradcSman and farmer who had tried TO in
Hate Joan IN the arts of husbaniry aud shoe ma
king bu, without SUCCESS anl that ho had seat
hun 10 college las, resort. lie, in Fl 10 begged
OF his daughter no, to think Of an alliance SO much
beneath her.
Miss Smith was among the most dutifu of
daughters, bat She saw Mr. Adams through me
dunn very different from that in which her father
viewed him. lis vision was crowded by the llm
otpreladce hers was assisted ny the warm und
radiant glow Of affection which, magnifes every
fsnclcd excellence an hundred fold She would moi,
for The world, offend or dsobey her father but still
JoHn saw something in her eye and manner which
seemed 10 say 'perMrere, and Oh that hint no
actcd.
Mr Smith, like good pnrson AMI affectonate
father, sa,dihat if they would marry with his ap.
probation he would preach each of them a sermon
the Sunday after the joyful OCCASION and that
thev should have the privilege Of choosing the text.
After the due performances OF courtshp, the ap-
pointed time for the espousals of the elder daugh-
ter, Mary, arrived and she was united to NJ,
cranch ~ the holy bonds, with the approval the
blessing and benediction of her parents aud all
her friends Mr. Smith then said 10 her, Mary,
my duutul child, | am now ready to prepare your
sermon for mex Sunday what do you select for
your text 2 Said Nary, have selected the latter
part Of the 43nd verse Of the 10Th chapter O,
Luke:
Mary hath chosen Aat good part, seiieh shah
not bctaken from her,
Very good, my daughter said the father and
the sermon was preached,
Mr.. Adams persevered in his suit in def lnce
| o. all opposition. 1t was many wears after and
on very different occasion, and in resistance of
u different opposition that he uttered these memo.
Table words sink or s,ctnt hve die, sruire or
| perish Igite my h.aH and hand 10 ttis measure
But though the measure different, the spiri,
.wes the same. Besides, he had already carried
II main point of the attack, the hear; of the voLn
t4dy-and he knew the surrender of the citadel
mast soon follow. After the usual hesitation and
delay that attend such an unpleasant affair, Mr.
Smith, seeing that resistance was fiuess, yield