The Reverend William Smith's daughter...
Illustration
The Reverend William Smith's daughter Abigail wanted to marry. She wanted to marry a lawyer, and Smith thought lawyers were sleazy weasels -- he might have made up lawyer jokes. Abigail's suitor was John Adams, the son of a small farmer. Smith came from a long and distinguished line of Massachusetts clergy, and in New England, class consciousness said Adams wasn't good enough to marry Smith's daughter. Smith was against it from the start. It was all he could do to muster up some small courtesy when this Adams creature came around.
Young people being what they are, John and Abigail got married anyway. Smith did preach at the wedding. He chose to preach on Matthew 11:18, "For John came neither eating or drinking, and they say he was a demon!" Abigail was amused; John never commented on it.
It was October 25, 1764. In 1797 John Adams would be inaugurated President of the United States, long before anyone thought of calling it POTUS. His most difficult task was to follow George Washington. He admitted that at the swearing in, he thought all eyes were on Washington, wishing he were still Chief Executive. For their time, all the great things had already been done. Adams thought history would say Franklin smote the earth with lightning from heaven and called forth Washington and the two of them created our nation.
-- Mosley
Young people being what they are, John and Abigail got married anyway. Smith did preach at the wedding. He chose to preach on Matthew 11:18, "For John came neither eating or drinking, and they say he was a demon!" Abigail was amused; John never commented on it.
It was October 25, 1764. In 1797 John Adams would be inaugurated President of the United States, long before anyone thought of calling it POTUS. His most difficult task was to follow George Washington. He admitted that at the swearing in, he thought all eyes were on Washington, wishing he were still Chief Executive. For their time, all the great things had already been done. Adams thought history would say Franklin smote the earth with lightning from heaven and called forth Washington and the two of them created our nation.
-- Mosley
