Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-01-04
MISC LII A n Y.
COurtship OF JOha Adams.

Some ten years since. l spent college
vacation in the town of Weymouth, Norfolk
county, Mass. While there, attended
church one Sunday morning, at what was
called the Old Weymouth Meeting House,
anG heard a sermon from the venerable
pastor, Rev. Jacob Norton. | also made
tho acquaintance of very agreeable old
lady who related the substance of the fol-
loving anecdote Of Mr.. Smith, their former
pastor:
"Mr. Smith," said she, twas an excel
lent man, and very fine preacher, but he
had high notions of himself and family-in
other words he was something of an aris-
tocrat."
"Mr. Smith had two charming daughters.
Mary was the name of the elder, and the
others name have forgotten. They were
admired by the beaux, and envied by the
bellies of the country round. But while the
careful guardians of the parsons family
were holding consultation on the subject, it
was lmored that two young lawyers
think both of the neighboring town of Quin-
cy-a Mr.. Cranch aud Mr.. Adams-were
payins their addresses to the Misses Smith.
A every man, woman, and child of coun-
try parish in New England, is acquainted
with whatever occurs in the parsons faml-
ly, all the circumstances Of the courtship
soon tranSpred.
"Nlr Cranch was Of respectable family
of some note, was considered young man
of promise, and altogether worthy of the al
lance he sought. He was very acceptable
to Mr.. Smith, and was greeted by himself
and his family with great respect and cor
diality. He afterwards rose to the dignity
of Judge of the Court Of Common Pleas Of
Massachusetts,, and was father of the pres
ent Judge Cranch, OF the District Of Colum-
bia.
"The suitor of the other daughter was
John Adams, who afterwards became Pres
ident of the United States. But at that
time, in the opinion Of Mr., Smith and fam
lily, he gave but slender promise of the DIS
tinction to which he afterwards arrived
His pcetentions were scorned by all the fam
lily, excepting the young lady to whom his
addresses were especially directed. Mr.,
Smith showed him none of the ordinary ci-
Whites of the house he was not asked to
partake of the hospltalities Of the table !;
and it was reported that his horse was DOOM
ed to share with his master the neglect and
modification to which he was subject, for
he was frequently seen shivering In the
cold, and gnawlng the post Of the parsons
door, on the long winter evenings. In
short, It was reported that the parson had
intlmatei to him that his visits were unac-
ceptabe, and that he would coRfer favor
by disseminating them. He told his daugh-
ter that John Adams was unwOrthy Of her
tina; his father was an honest man and
tradeSmaa, who had tried to initiate John
into the arts of husbandry and shoemakIng
but without success; and that he had sent
him to college, as last resort He begged
his daughter not to think OF making an al
lsance with one so much beneath her.
"Miss Smith was one Of the most du6ful
of daughters, but she saw Mr.. Adams
through medium very different from that
an which her father viewed him. She
would not offend or disobey her father IN
anything reasonable: but still John saw
something in her manner, which seemed
10 say 'Perserere = and on that hint he ac-
ted.
"Mr. Smith, like good parson and affec-
tionate father, had told his daughters, that
he would preach them a sermon on the
Sunday after the joyful occasion: and that
they should have the privilege of choosing
the text.
The espousal of the older daughter, Ma
nv, arrived, and she was united to Mr..
Clanch in the matrimonial bonds, with the
approval, the blessings, and the benedic-
tons, of her parents and her friends. Mr..
Smith then said, My dutiiul child, am
ready to prepare your sermon for next Sun
day. What do you select for your text"
my dear father said Mary, Il have
selected the latter part Of the iortY.second