Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-07-17
M1iscellanp.
Courtship of John Adams.

SNA Va VOAn <1uo1uSs
Some ten years ago, spent college vacation
In the town of Weymouth, Norfolk County,
Mass While there attended church one Sun
day morning at what was called the old Wcy-
mouth meeting house, 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 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 parishioners could remember no other pastor
but thai she could we'll remember his prode-
cessoc, the Rev. Mr.. Smith, and that ho and
Mr.. Norton had oficiated for the last eighty
years.
"Mr. Smith," said she, "was IN excellent
MAJ and u very fine preacher, but he had high
notions Of himself and family-in other words,
he vs. something Of an aristocrat." One day
she t,d me the following anecdotc of old Par
son Smith and several other persons Of distinc
ton
"Mr. Smith had two charming daughters.-
Mary was the name of the Oldest the others
name have forgotten. They were admired by
the beaux and envied by the bellies Of the coun-
try round. But while the careful guardians of
the parsons family were holding consultations
on the subject, it was rumorcd that two young
lawyers, a Mr.. Cranch and Mr.. Adams, think
both of the neighboring town of Quincy, were
paving their addresses to the Misses Smith AS
every man, woman and child of country par
ish of New England is acquainted with what
ever occurs in the parsons family, all the cir
cumstances of the courtship soon transpired.
Mr.. Cranch was of respectable family of
some note, was considered u young man Of
promise, and altogether worthy the alliance he
sought. He was very acceptable to Mr.. Smith,
and was greeted by himself and family with
great cordiality and respect. He was received
by the eldest as u lover, and was in fact a young
man of great responsibility. He afterwards
rose to the dignity of Judge Of the Court of
Common Pleas of Massachusetts,.
The suitor of the other daughter was John
Adams, who afterwards became President of the
United States. But at that time, in the opinion
of Mr.. Smith and family, he gave but slender
promise of the distinction to which he after
wards arrived. His pretensions were scorned by
oil the family, excepting the young lady to
whom his addresses were especially directed
Mr.. Smith showed him none of the ordinary
civilites of the house he was not asked to the
hospitalties of the table; and it is eported that
his horse was doomed to share with his master
the neglect and modification to which he was
subject, for he was frequently seen shivering in
the cold, and gnawing the post at the parson
door on long winter evenings in short, it wa
reported thas the good parson had intimated tt
him that his visits were not acceptable ane
that he would confer favor by disseminating
them.
He told his daughter that John Adams wa
unworthy of her, that his father was an homes
man, tradcsman who had tried to initiate Joh
into the arts of husbandry and shoemaking, bu
without success, and that he had sent him t
college as a last resort. He begged his daughte
not to think of making an alliance with one s
much beneath her. Miss Smith was among tn
most dutiful of daughters but she saw Mr.. A
through medium very different from that
which her father viewed him. She would nj
for the world offend Or disobey her father, bl
still John Adams saw something in her eye an
manner that seemed to say" persevere," an
on that hint he acted.
Mr.. Smith, like good parson and an affe
tionate father, had told his daughters that
they married with his appreciation, he wou
preach each of them sermon on the Sabbat
after the joyful occasion, and that they shou
have the privilege of selecting the text. III
espousal of the eldest daughter Mary arrive
and she was united to Mr.. Cranch in holy bond
with the approval, the blessings and the ben
dictions of her friends. Mr.. Smith then sale
"My dutiful child, ON now ready to prepa
your sermon for next Sunday. What do y
select for the text
"Dear father" said Mary, have select
the latter part of the forty second verse
the tenth chapter of Luke, Mary hath chos
that good part which shall not be taken aw
from her.
Very good, my daughter" said he; and
sermon was preached.
Mr.. Adams persevered in his suit in defar
Of oil opposition. 1t was many years aft
and on very different occasion, and in resi-
ance to very different opposition, that he utt
ed these words: a" Sink or swim, live or d
survive or perish, give my heart and hand
this measure" But though the measure WI
different the spirit was the same. Besides,
had already carried the main point of alta
tho heart of the young lady-and he KIN
the surrender Of the citadel must soon folio
After the usual hesitation and delay that
tends such an unpleasant affair, Mr.. Sm
seeing that resistance was fruitless, yielded
contested point with as much grace as possit
as many a prudent father has done before Q
since that time. Mr.. Adams was united to
lovely Miss Smith. After the marriage ,
over, and all things settled in quiet, Mrs Ads
remarked to her father i" You preached si
Mary sermon on the occasion of her Marriu
Won't you preach me one.
Yes my dear GIRL" said Mr.. Smi
" choose your text, and you shall have J
sermon"
"Well, )" said the daughter :" I have CHI
the thirty-third verse of the seventh chaptt
Luke; - For John came, neither eating b