Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-09-05

The Cincinnati, Chronicle furnishes the
following pleasant sketch, which may be
new aud interesting To some Of our rea-
ders:
Some ten years since, | spent college
vacation ~ the iowu oi Weymouth, Nor
folk county, Massachusetts. While there
| attended church one Sunday morning
1t what was called the old Weymouth
meeting house, aud heard sermon from
the venerable pastor, Rev Jacob Norton.
II About the same tine | made Norton a
visit and became much interested IN the
old gentleman. | mentioned my agree
able visits to M aged lady OF the parish,
whose acquaintance had made. She
informed me that Mr.. Norton VAS ordain-
ed their pastor when he was about twenty
one years OF uge, and that he had been
With them nearly forty years. She OBJ
served that most Of his present parishon-
ers could remember no other pastor /;
bot that she could well remember his
predecessor, the Rev Mr.. SmlIh, and
tina; he and Mr.. Norton had filled tn.
sane pul pit for the better part OF the last
eighty Yeas.
"Alr. Smith" said she ,"was an excel
lent man, aud very tine preacher but
he had high notions oi himself and fam
hy in other words, he was something
of an arlstocral. One day she said to
me, To illustrate to you little the char
acler OF old parson Smith, ] viii tell you
an anecdoie that relates to himself and
some other persons OF distinction. MIR.
Smith had two charming daughters - the
eldest OF these daughters was Mary, the
others name have lorg oueu)who were
the admiration OF the beauX, and the en-
II Wy Of all the bellies of the country around
But while the careful guardians of the
parsons family were holding consultaiioI
Oh the subject, It was Iumored that two
young lawyers, Il think both of the
neighboring town OF Quincy a MIR.
Cranch and Mr.. Adams, were paying
their addresses to the Misses Smith.
As every man, woman iand child OF a
country parish 10 New Englan Is ac-
II quaiEted with whatever takes place ~
the parsons family, all the circumstances es
\ OF the courtshlp soon transpIred. Mr.
II Cranrh was oi n respectable family Of
some note was cons dered young man
oi promise, and altogether worthy of the
alliance he sought. lie was very accep.
table TO MIR. Smith, and was greeted by
himself and his family with great respect
aud coldisIlIy. lie was received by
the eldest daughter as IA lover, and was
III fact, young man Of much respecta-
bIlty. He aiterward rose to the dgn-
ty of Judge of the Court OF Common
Pleas of Massachusetts, and was the ia
lher OF the present Hon Judge Cranch,
oi The DlstrIc; OF Columbia.
! The suitor OF the other daughter was
John Adams, who afterwards became
President of the United States. Bui
al that time, ~ the opinion Of Mr.. Smith
and family, he gave but slender promise
OF the distinction to which he ailerward
arrived His pretenslons were scorned
by all the family excepting the young
lady To whom his addresses were cspe-
ciaIly directed Mr.. Smith showed him
none Of the ordinary cvilnies of the
house; he was moi asked TO partake OF
the hospItalItips of the table: and It Is
reported that his horse was doomed to
share with his master the neglect and
modification 10 which he was subjected,
Tor he was frequently seen shIvering IN
The cold, and gnawIng the post at the
parsons door Of long Winter evenings.
ln hne, 1t was reported that Mr.. Smith
had inllma,ed TO him that his visits were
unacceptable, and he would do him
favor by disseminating them; he told his
daughter that John Adams was not wor-
thy of her; tina, his father was an honest
tradesman aud farmer, who had tried TO
initiate John into the arts of husbandry
and shoe making, but without success;
and that he had sent him to college as u
last resort lie in fine begged his
daughter not TO think of making an alll-
auce with one SO much beneath her.
Miss Smith was among the most duti-
lul of daughters; bot she saw Mr. Adams
through medium different from that IN
which her father viewed him. - She
would not for the world offend or disobey
her father, bot still John saw something
~ her eve aud manner which seemed To
4ay "pcrSeuere, aud on that hint he ac.
ted
Mr.. Smith, like n good parson and
afec,ionate father, told his daughters, If
they married with his appreciation, he
would preach each OF them n sermon on
the Sabbath after the joyful occasion,
and that they should have the privilege
II choosing the text.
The espousal Of the eldest daughter
Mary arrived, and she was united with
Nr. Cranch ~ the holy bonds, with the
approval, the blessings and Ucnediciions
Of her parents aud friends Mr.. Smith /,
then said: "NIy duil(ul child, | am now
ready to prepare your sermon for next
Sunday. What do you select for your
text" "My dear fsther," said Mary,
~ have selected the latter part Of The
lld verse oi The 10Th chapter of Luke"
"Nary hath chosen the good part,
which shall never be taken from her"
"Very good my daughter" said her
father, and so a sermon was preached. \
Mr. Adams persevered 10 his suit IN
defiance OF all opposition. twas many
ears after and on different occasion,
nd ~ resistance of very different oppo-
-iI"n, that he uttered ihese memorable
sords "Sruk ~ -Num, live or die, sur.