Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-08-30
Volume Xxx.
coURTsHfP OF THE ELDER ADAMS:

attended church one Sunday morning,
at VIII at was called the Old Weymouth
Meeting house, and heard sermon
from the venerable pastor, Rev. Jacob
Norton. About the same time l made
Mr.. Norton aivisit, and became much
interested in the old gentleman. linen
toned my agreeable visit to an old lady
of the parish, whose acquaintance had
made. She informed me that DR.. Nor
ton was ordained their pastor when be
was about twenty-one years of age, and
that he had been with them nearly forty
years. She observed that most of his
present parishioners could remember no
other pastor; but that she could well
remember his predecessor, the Rev. Mr..
Smith, and that he and Mr.. Norton had
flled the same pulpit for the better part
of the last eight years.
"Mr. Smith," said she, "was an ex-
cellent man, and a very fine preacher,
but he had high notions of himself and
family-iu other words, he was some
what of an aristocrat."
One day, she told me the following
eaecdote Of old Parson Smith, and sew
eral other persons of distinction.
Mr.. Smith had two charming dsught-
ers. Mary was the name of the Oldest,
the others name I have forgotten.-
They were admired by the besux, and
envied by the bellies of the country
around. But while the careful guar.
dians of the parsons family were hold
ing consultation on the subject, it was
rumored that two young lawyers-I
think both of the neighboring town of
Quincy Mr.. Cranch and Mr.. Adams
were paying their addresses to the
Misses Smith. As every man, woman,
and child, of country parish in New
England, is acquainted with whatever
occursin the parsons family, all the cir
cunnstances of the courtship soon trans
pired.
Mr.. Crsnch was Of a respectable FAM
lily of some note, was considered young
man of promise, and altogether worthy
of the alliance he sought. He was very
acceptable tosMr. Smith, and was greet
ed by himself and his family with great
respect and cordiality. He was received
by the eldest daughter as a lover, and
was in fact, young man of great re-
spectability. He afterwards rose to the
dignity of Judge of the Court of Com
mon Pleas of Massachusetts, and was
the father of the present Judge Cranch.
of the District of Columbia.
The suitor of the other daughter was
John Adams, who afterwards became
p President of the United States. But at
that time, in the opinion of Mr.. Smith
and family, he gave but slender prom
ise of the distinction to which he after
wards arrived. His pretensions were
scorned by all the members of the fami-
ly, excepting the young lady to whom
his addresses were especially directed.
Mr.. Smith showed him none of his ordi-
nary civilities of the house; he was not
asked to partake of the hospitalities of
the table, and it is reported that his
horse was doomed to share with his mas
ter the neglect and modification to which
he was subject, for he was frequently
seen shivering in the cold, and gnawing
the post at the parsons door, of long
winter evenings. In short, it was re-
ported that the parson had intimated to
him that his visits were not acceptable,
and that he would confer favor by dis
continuing them. He told his daught-
er that John Adams was unworthy of
ber--that his father was an honest man
and tradesmsn, who had tried to
initiate John in the art of husbandry
and shoemaking, but without success
and that be sent him to college as last
resort. He begged his daughter not to
think Of making an alliance with one so
much beneath her. 7f rs
Miss Smith was among the most duti-
full of efdaughters, but she saw Mr.. Adams
through medium very different from
that in which her father viewed him.
She weuld not for the world offend or
disobey her father; but John saw some
thing in her eye and manner, which
seemed to say, "PerseVers" and on that
hint he acted. IA
Mr.. Smith, like good parson and an
affectionate father, had told his daught-
ers. that if they married with his appro-
baton, he would preach each of them
q sermon on the Sabbath after the joy
full occasion; and that they should have
the privilege of choosing the text.
The espousal of the oldest daughter,
Mary, arrived, and she, was united to
Mr. Cranch in the holy bonds, with the
approval, the blessings, and the bene-
dictions of parents and friends. Mr.
Smith then said, -"My dutful child, I
am now ready to prepare your sermon
fornext Sunday. What do you select
for your text"
'sMy dear father" said Mary, 81
have selected the latter part of the for
ty-second verse Of Luke-"Mary hath
chosen the good part, which shall never
be taken from her."
"Very good, my daughter" said he
and 80 q sermon was preached.
/, Mr.Adams perseyered in his suit, in
defiance Of all opposition. Il was many
years safssrs and on very diferentocca-
sion. and in resistance Of very different
opposition, that he uttered these mem
orable words: "Sink or swim, lire or
die, survive or perish, I give nv heart
raosupa1 - -