Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-03-08


great respect and cordially. He was received
by The eldest as lover aud was in fact a
young man OF great respectaoiliiy. lie after
wards rose TO the dignity OF Judge OF the Court
OF Common Pleas nf Massachusetts.
The suilor Of the other daughter was John
Adams, who afterwards became Presdeui of
the United States But at that tine, in the
opinion Of Mr.. Smith and family, he gave but
slender promise of the distinction TO which he
Afterwards arrived His preiensioos were
scornrd by all the family, except the young la
dy to whom his addlesses we're especially d.
rected Mr.. smith showed hiIn none Of the
ordinary eiyiliies Of the house he was not
asked to the hospiiallIles OF the table, and 1t
is reported that his horse vas doomed to share
with his master the neglect and moriifcaiion Ia
which he was subject, for he was frequently
seen shiyering in the cold, and g0awing the
post at the parsons door on long winter even
inRs IN short, u was reported that the par
son had in,maied to him that his visits were
unacceptable aud that he would confer favor
by disseminating them.
lie told his daughter that John Adams was
unworthy of her, that his father was an hunest
man, Iradesman who bad tried to initiate
John into the arts Of husbandry aud shoemak-
ing, but without success, and taat he had sent
him TO college as last resort. He begged
his daughter not to think ofmakng an alliance
with Que so much beneath her. Miss smith
was among The most dutiiul OF daughters, but
she saw Mr.. Adams through medium very
different from that in which her mother viewed
him. She would not for the world offend or
disobey her father, but still John Adams saw
something in here and manner which seemed
to say ''perseyere," and on that hin, he acted.
Mr.. Smith, like good parson aud an alice
tomato father. had told his daughters that, II
they married with his appreciation, he would
preach each OF them a sermon on the Sabbath
after The joyful occasion and they should have
the privilege Of choosing the text. The es-
pousal ofthc cldes, daughter Mary arrived, and
she was united to Mr.. Cranch in holy bonds,
with the approval, the blessings, and the bene-
diciicns Of her friends. Mr.. Smith then said :;
my dutiful child, am now ready to prepare
your sermon for next Sunday. What do you
select for the text -
dear faiher,' said Mary, IL have selected
the latter part Of the fony-second verse OF the
tenth chapter OF Luke, MARY hath chosen that
good part, which shall no, be taken away from
her "
VERY good, my daughter" said he and
the sermon was preached,
Mr.. Adams persevered in his suit in defiance
Of all opposition. 1t was many years sfter,
and on a very different occasion, and in resis-
lance to very different opposition, that he Ut
tered these 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 the At
tack-ihe heart of the young lady-and he
knew the surrender of the citide. must soon
follow. Aher the usual hesitation and delay
that attends such an unpleasant affair, Mr..
Smith. seeing that resistance was fruiiless,
yielded The contested point with as much grace
as possible, as many prudent father has done
before and since that time. Mr.. Adams was
united to- the lovely Miss Smith. After the
marriage was over, and all things settled in
gaiei, Mis, Adam. remarked 10 her father
''you preached sister Mary a sermon on the oc-
casion Of her marriage. Won't you preach me
one -
"fes, my dear girl" said Mr.. Smith
'.choose your text, and you shall have youl
.sWell" i" said the daughter al have chosen