Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-05-31
oourtship of the Elder Adams.

was called the old Weymouth Westinghouse,
and heard sermon from the venerable pastor,
Rev. Jacob Norton About the same time
! made Mr. Norton visit and became much
interested in the old gentleman. mentioned
my agreeable visit to an old lady of the
parish, whose acquaintance | had made
She informed me that Mr.. Norton was or
dained theirpastor, when she was about twety-
one years of age, and that he had been with
them nearly forty years. She observed that
most of his present parshioners could remem-
Der no other pastor but that she could re-
member his predecessor, the Rev. Smith and
that he and Mr. Norton had filled the same
pulpit for the better part Of the last eighty
years
Mr. Smith, said she, "was an excellent
man and very fine preacher, but he had high
notions Of himself and family-in other words
he was something Of an arstocrat"
One day she told me the following anec-
dote of parson Smith, and several other per-
sons Of distinctions
Mr.. Smith had two charming daughters.
Mary was the name of the eldest the Others
name have forgotten. They were admired
by the beaux and envied by the bellies Of the
country around But while the careful guar
dians of the parsons family were holding
consultation on the subject it was rumored
that two young lawyers think both of the
neighboring town of Quincy-a Mr. Cranch
and a Mr.. Adams-were paying their address
ses to the Misses Smith As every man,
woman and child, of a country parish in New
England, is acquainted with whatever occurs
in the parsons family, all the circumstances
of the courtShip soon transpired.
Mr.. Cranch was of respectable family
of some note was considered young man
of promise, and altogether worthy the alli-
ance he sought. lie was very acceptable to
Mr. Smith, and was greeted by himself and
family with great respect and cordiality.-
He was received by the eldest daughter as a
lover, and was, in fact, young man of great
responsibility. He afterwards rose to the
dignity of Judge Of the Court of Common
Pleas, Of Massachusetts, and was the father
Of the present Judge Cranch Of the District
of Columbia.
The sutor of the other daughter was John
Adams, who afterwards became president
of the United States. But at that time i'll
the opinion Of Mr. Smith and family, he gave
but slender promise of the distinction to
which he afterwords arrived. His preten-
tions were scorne1 by all the family, except
ing the young lady to whom his addresses
were pecaly directed. Mr. Smith showed
him none of tie ordinary ciyiiti,s OF his
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
master, the neglect and modification to which
he as subject, for he was frequently seen
shiyering in the cold aud gnawing the post
at the parsons door, Of long winter evenings.
In short, it was reported that the parson had
intimated to him, that his visits were unac-
ceptable, and that he would confer favor by
dScontinuing 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 initiate John in
the ait of husbandry and shoemaking, but
without success and that he sent him to col
ledge as a last resort. He begged his daugh-
ter not to think Of making an alliance with
one so much beneath her.
Miss Smith was among the most dutiful
of daughters, but she saw Mr. Adams through
medium very different from that in which
all the world offend or disobey her father !:
but John saw something in the eye and man
ner which seemed TO say, "persevere," and
on that hint he acted Mr.. Smith, like
good parson and affectionate father had told
his daughters that if they married with his
appreciation, he would preach each of them
sermon on the SABBATH after the joyful occa-
casion and that they should have the privil-
age 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 bless
ings and the benedictiones Of her parents and
friends. Mr.. Smith then said, My dutiful
child am now ready to prepare your SER
mon for next Sunday. What do you select
for your text y
Ny dear father" said Mary, | have Sc
lected the latter part of the forty-second
verse of Luke Mary hath chosen the good
part which shall never be taken from her, "
Very good my daugeter,' said he, and SO
a sermon was prerched
Mr.. Adams persevered in his suit in defiance
of all opposition. 1t was many years after,
on different occasion, and in resistance of
very different opposition, that he uttered
these memorable words" Sink or swim, live
or die, survive or 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 heart of the young
lady-and he knew the surrender of the cita-
del must soon follow. After the usual hesita-
ton and delay that attends such an unpleas-
ant affair, Mr.. Smith, seeing that resistance
fruitless, yielded the contested point with as