Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-06-20
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE
From, the Cincinnati Chronicle.
THE COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE OF
THE ELDER ADAMS.

|. Some ten years since spent coitege Vdca'
tioo in the town Of Weymouth, Norfolk County,
Massachusetts. While there | attended church
one Sunday morning, at what was called the old
Weymouth meeting house, and heard sermon
from the venerable pastor, the Rev. Jacob Nor.
ton. About the same time, in company with
friend, made Mr.. Norton visit, spent de-
l,shtful hour with him and his agreeable family,
and, in fact, became much interested in the old
gentleman. fmen'ioned my agreeable visit to
an aged bu, intelligent lady Of the parish. whose
acquaintance had made. This lady loved the
old church as she did her own soul; 1t was the
place where she had heard from infancy to advan
ced age the words of eternal life, and it was H.
terally to her the very gate of heaven. Next to
the church ITSELF in the scale Of her regards, was
her reverend pastor, Mr.. Norton.
Weymouth is situated twenty or thirty miles
northwest Of old Plymouth Rock; 1t was settled
no, long after our foreathers landed at the latter
place; and If course this church must be among
The most ancient Of New England Churches
This es,,mable old lady beguiled me OF many a
delightful hour at different times, ia giving me
the trad,ionary history and-.relafing anecdotes
of tn. old church and its different pastors.
She informed me that Mr.. Norton was ordain.
ed their pastor when he VAS about twenty -one
wears Of age, and that he had been with them. at
that time, nearly fnrty years She observed that
most Of his present pensioners could remember
mn ohsr pastor; but that she could we'll remem
her his Predecessor, the Rev. MIR. Smith, and
tia, he and Mr.. Norton had filed the same pulpit
for the better part of the last eighty Years. Mr.
Smith, said she, was very ditferept man
Gron Mr. Nurton-an able man-an excellent
| man-aud 6ne preacher; but he had high no
films of himself and family-in other words,
he was something Of an aristoorat' One day
she said 10 me, To illustrate IN you little the
character Of old parson Smith. will tell YOU an
a,r, ao.e that relates to himself and some other
! persons ut sli,tincuon.
| Mr.. Smith had two charming daughters--tthe
elder of these daughters was Mary, the Others
| name have fo,gOuen)-aho we're the adm,ra
| tim Of all the b.aux, aud the envy of all the
| bellies of the country around. Various sage and
l-ep d,sauisit,ons were had. by the "ise ones of
| the parish, On The da,k question, WIN would be
the happy lads that >nauid find favor IN the eyes
| Of these iadir.f But while these careful guardians
| of the sons family we're hnldins co 'sultali"n
ON the subject, Il was rumOrrn mat Two young
Inwyer. Il ththk both ct the ne'ghbnring town ni
Ouiu,y) n Mr. Ctanch and Mr.. Adams, were
nay,ns their addresses to the Miss Smiths. As
every man, woman, and child, Ut a country par
i.h in New England is acquainted with Whale.
A
| circumstances Of the courtship soon TRANSFERRED.
MIR. Craneh was "a member OF family OF some
mute. was considered a young man OF promise,
and aI,ooe,her vol thy OF the alliance he sought.
II. vas very acceptable to Mr.. Smith. and was
greeted by HIN and his family With great respect
and .o,,iairtv. H. was received BY the elder
daughter as favoured lover; aud was, in fact, a
! ,uang man Of much responsibility. He alter
narf. arr.e 10 the digniy o! Judge OF the Court
| ri Comnon Pleas OF Massae huset's. and was the
father of The present Hon. Judge Cranch. OF the
! ID strict ~ Columbia.
Tne suite, of the other daughter vas John Ad.
ANS aim ,s,prwar,I, became President OF the U.
States. But 1T that tine, Ia the opinion of Mr..
| Sn,lh and family he gave but slender promise
of IA. ,h,,uci iun To which h+ alter wards attained.
| U,s pre,en-,ons we're stOrnsd bv all the family
ex,.ptlus the young lady to whom his addresses
were especially directed. Mr. Smith sho"ed
h,u ncn. Of the ordinary civililirs OF his house:
he was not asked to pariake OF the hosp,'aii'irs
of the table: and II Is reported that his horse was
doomed 10 share with his MASTER the neglect aud
m,,,;6, alton to which he was subjected; Tor he
was frequently seen shlVrr'ny In Tue e"'o' ana
onaw,no the post at the parsons door. OF long
winter evenings In fins, 1t sas reported that
Mr.. Smith had ,ntima,rt to him that his visits
were unacceptable, aud he would do him favor
by disseminating the N; he told his daughter that
John Adams Vas not worthy Of her; that his Ia
Their was an bouest uadesman aud farmer, who
had tried to initiate John the arts ot husbandr'
and shoe making, but without success; and that
he had sent hun 10 college a, last resort H.,
in noe, begged his daughter not TO think Of al ALI
ance SO much beneath her
Miss Smith WAS among the most dutful Of
daughters, bat she saw Mr. Adams through a
medium very different from that through which
her father viewed him His vision was clouded
by the flm of prejudice; hers wa. assisted by
the warm and radiant glow OF affection, which
magn,hes every fanc,ed excellence an hundred
fold. She would not for the world offend or diso-
bey her father, but still John saw something in her
eve and manner which seemed to say 'perseue,e,
and on that hlnt he acted.
Mr.. Smith, like good parson and affection
ate father; had told his daughters that 1t they
married with appreciation, he would preach each
of them sermon the Sunday after the joyful oe