Litchfield enquirer., 1855-01-18
Nisesilaqy.
couRTsHfP OF JOHN ADAMS.

ded church one Sunday morning, at what
was called the Old Weymouth Meeting
House. and heard sermon from the vener-
able pastor, Rev. Jacob Norton. About
the same time, made Mr.. Norton visit,
and became much interested in the old gem
tleman.
| mentioned my agreeable visits to an
old lady of the parish whose acquaintance
] had made. She informed me that MIR.
Norton was ordained their pastor when he
was about twenty-one years OF age. and
that he had been with them nearly forty
years. She observed that most of his pa
risl,ioners could remember no other pastor !;
but that she could well remember his pre-
decessor. the Rev. Mr.. Smith, and that he
and MIR. Norton had otficiated the last eigh-
ty years.
Mr.. Smith, said she, "was an ex-
cellent man, and fine preacher; bu. lie
had high notions If himself and family
. in other words he was something OF an
aristocrat."
| One day she told me the following anec-
dote of old Parson Smith and several other
persons of distinction.
Mr.. Smith had two charming daughters.
er's name | have forgotten. They were
admired By the beaux and envied by the
bellies of the country round, But while
the careful guardians Of tie pars on's family
were holding consultation OF the subject, 1t
was rumored that two young lawyers, MIR.
Crunch and Mr.. Adams, think both of
the neighboring town Of Quincy. were
paying their addresses to the Misses Smith.
AS every man, woman and child of a coun-
Try parish in New England is acquainted
with whatever occurs in the PARSONS fami-
", all the circumstances of the cour.ship
soon transpired.
Mr.. Cranch was Of a respectable ftmly
of some note, was considered "A 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 family with great respect and cordiall-
ty He was received by the eldest daugh-
ter as lover, and was, in fact. young
man of great responsibility. He afterwards
rose to the dignity Of Judge Of Common
Pleas Of Massachusetts,.
The sutton 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.
ily, he gave but slender promise of the dis
tinction to which, he afterwards arrived
His pretensions were scorned by all the
family, excepting the young lady to whom
his addresses were especially directed
Mr.. Smith showed him none Of the ordina-
nv civilities of the house he was not ask
ed to the hospitalties of the table, and it is
reported that his horse was doomed to
share with his master the neglect and NOR
tifcation to which he was subject, for he
was frequently seen shiyering In the cold,
and gnawing the post at the parsons door
Of long winter evenings.
In short, it was reported that the parson
had in,imated to him that his visits were
unacceptable, and that he would confer
favor by disseminating them. He told his
daughter that John Adams was unworthy
of her, that his father was an honest man
and tradesman; who had tried to In
itiate John into the arts Of husbandry and
shoe making. but without success; and
that he had sent him to college as "A last re-
sort. He begged his daughter not to
think of making an alliance with one so
! much be- It'll her.
Miss Smith was among the most dutifol
daughters, but she saw Mr. Adams through
a medium very different from that in which
her father viewed him. She would not for
the world offend or disobey her father; but
still John saw something in her eye and
manner which seemed to say " Perseoere! .
and on that hint he acted.
| Mr.. Smith. like good parson and an at
| fectionata father, had told his daughters
that il they married with his appreciation,
he would preach each of them sermon on
the Sabbath after the joyful occasion, and
that they should have the privilege OF
choosing the text.
The espousal of the eldest daughter, Ma
nv, arrived, and she was united to MIR.
Cranch in holy bonds, with the approval,
the blessings, and the benedlctiens oil her
| friends. Mr. Smith then said:
| "My duiiful child, am now ready 10
prepare your sermon for next Sunday
What do yoa select for yonr text T.
Dear father" said Mary, +" have Sc
lected the latter part of the I3l verse oil
Luke, Mary hath chosen the good part
which shall not be taken from her.
Every good my daughter" said he, and
so sermon was preached.
| MT. AuaunS pSISctefcu III us sett fh eSt''
ance Of all opposition. 1t was many years
after, and on very different occasion. and
| in resistance Of very different opposition
that he uttered these words -
.Sink or swim, live or die. survive Of
perish. | give my heart and hand to this
measure"
But though the measures were different
/ the spirit was the same. Besides he had
already carried the main point Of attack
the hear, of the young lady,-andhe anew
the surrender OF the citadel must soon fol
low. After the usual hesitation and delay
that attend such an unpleasant affair. Dir
Smith, seeing that resistance was trui'less
yielded the contested point with as muci
grace as possible, as many prudent fathc
has done before and since that time MIR
Adams was united to the lovely Mis-.
Smith. After the marriage was over, ant
all things settled in quiet. Mrs. Adams re
marked TO her father.
!" You preached sister Mary sermon 81
the occasion Of her marriage Won't 20,
nreach me one likewise r.
a. daav usrt ~ said Mr. Smith