One Sabbath afternoon his people were expecting a stranger to preach whom they were all anxious to hear, and a much more numerous congregation than usual had assembled. The stranger did not come and of course the people were disappointed. Mr. Adams found himself obliged to officiate, and in the course of his devotional exercise he spoke to this effect. "We beseech thee, O Lord, for this people, who have come up with itching ears to the Sanctuary, that that their severe affliction may be sanctified to them for their moral and spiritual good, and that the humble efforts of thy servant may be made, through thy grace,in some measure effectual to their edification, &c.

A Parishioner, one of those who did not sit down and count the cost, undertook to build a house, and invited his friends and neighbors to have a frolic with him in digging the cellar. After the work was finished Mr. Adams happened to be passing by, and stopping addressed him thus. "Mr. Ritter, you have had a frolic and digged your cellar. You had better have another frolic and fill it up again." Had he heeded the old man's advice, he would have escaped the misery of pursuit from hungry creditors, and the necessity of resort to a more humble dwelling.

A neighboring minister- a mild inoffensive man - with whom he was about to exchange, said to

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him, knowing the peculiar bluntness of his characacter, You will find some panes of glass in the pulpit window broken, and possibly you may suffer from the cold. The cushion too, is in a bad condition, but I beg of you not to say anything to my people on the subject. They are poor,' &c. 'O, no! O, no!' says Mr. Adams. But ere he left home,

he filled a bag with rags and took it with him. When he had been in the pulpit a short time, feeling somewhat incommoded by the too free circulation of air, he deliberately took from the bag a handful or two of rags and stuffed them into the window. - Towards the close of his discourse, which was more or less upon the duties of a people towards their clergyman, he became very animated and purposely brought down both his fists with tremendous force upon the pulpit cushion. The feathers flew in all directions, and the cushion was pretty much used up. He instantly checked the current of his thoughts and simply exclaiming, Why, how these feathers fly!' proceeded. He had fulfilled his promise of not addressing the society on the subject, but had taught them a lesson not to be misunderstood. On the next Sabbath the window and cushion were found in excellent repair.

The foregoing anecdotes illustrate the remarkable independence and fearlessness of Mr. Adams and the degree of influence which the clergy exerted in his day. The following anecdotes are characteristic of the man, but are of a different stamp.

One night he put up at the house of Mr. Emerson, the minister of Hollis. Now his host, as was the general custom, took a glass of bitters every morning, and it so happened that they were in the closet of the chamber where Mr. Adams slept. With the morning came his craving for his bitters. He did not wish to disturb Mr. A, but he was very anxious to get his bitters and try he must. So he opened the door softly and crept slyly to the said closet. Mr. Adams heard him, but wishing to know what he would be at, pretended to be asleep. As soon as he had secured the prize and was about making his escape, Mr. A. broke the profound silence of the apartment with this exclamation, Bro. Emerson, I have always heard you was a very pious man much given to your closet devotions, but I never caught you at them before." Pshawpshaw!' replied his friend, who made for the door and shut it as soon as he cleverly could.

Sometimes he received a good hit, as it is well known he gave many. He said to the minister of Shirley one day,' My 'people like to have me exchange with you very well, Bro. Whitney.' 'Good reason why,' was the reply. They like to have good preaching once in a while.' 'Poh- poh!' says Mr. Adams.

No such thing. It is because they like to see you coming up from Shirley on horse-back; you ride so smart through the town,' Mr. W. prided himself on his horsemanship.

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On an occasion when the Trustees of Groton Academy were assembled, it became necessary for the laws of the Institution to be read aloud. Mr Adams read over a part and handed them to Mr. W. whom all present knew to be less fond of his books than his horse, saying 'Here, Bro. Whitney,you are a bookish man — read.' The retort came quick —'I know as much about books as you do about good manners.*

A council was convened at Westford to act upon the dismission of Mr. Scrivener. Mr. Adams was called the council with prayer. to open upon He declined. It was urged upon him. He declined more positively, saying he had made one prayer that morning. He was told that the duty devolved upon him as the oldest member present. They were so importunate that he was a little offended. Whereupon seizing a chair, he arose in haste and offered a prayer to God, the impression of which has not been effaced even at this late day. When it was finished, the minister of Shirley said to Dr.R. I think Mr. Adams prays best when he is a little mad.'

An individual in his parish killed one of his kine and told an older son to carry such a part to Mr. Adams. He said he didn't want to go, for he had been twice and got nothing for his pains. A younger son thought he could get something and offered to go. He took the meat to the house and pushing without ceremony into the room where Mr. A. and

some company were engaged in conversation, laid it down and said in a bold tone, Father has sent you this meat.' 'Did your father, 'says Mr.Adams, 'tell you to come into the room and speak to me in this way?' 'No,' replied the boy. 'Let me shew you, then,' said Mr. A. how you should have done you errand.' So having told the boy to sit down in a certain chair, he took the piece of meat and going out of the room came back in a very modest manner and said to the boy, (representing Mr. A.) in a very respectful tone, Father has sent you a piece of meat, if you will please to accept it.' 'Yes, I will,' says the boy, and, wife, give the boy two coppers.' This reply pleased Mr. A. so much that he told the boy to go into the next room and tell Mrs. Adams to give him the two coppers. Mr. Adams was always pleased with indications of brightness in the young and he frequently talked with them with a view to try and bring out their wits. Such replies as these afforded him much satisfaction and delight, perhaps the more, because the young were generally afraid of him and kept at a distance. Riding along on horse-back one day, he asked a boy he met,

Who lives in that house, my boy?' pointing to a house about which he and everybody knew. The boy looked up in Mr. A.'s face roguishly and said, 'Mr. Nobody lives there and he's not at home." Mr. A rode on with a hearty laugh.

At another time he asked a boy which way he should take to a neighboring town,whither the young