"Sat. 24. Sat out on our journey: dined at Colonel Willard's at Lancaster; got home to Groton a little after sunset. I have had a very pleasant journey: have not met with any difficulty in travelling above three hundred miles. God's name. be praised!

"Sat. Oct. 1. I wrote two letters in the forenoon, one to Mr. Edwards of Northampton, the other to his second daughter, a very desirable person to whom I purpose by Divine leave to make my addresses. May the Lord direct me in so important an affair!"

What answer Mr. Emerson received to his letters the diary does not tell, but one fancies that it was not altogether encouraging. Yet on the principle that faint heart ne'er won fair lady, we find the Pepperell minister soon setting out again for Northampton to plead in person his

suit with the girl, then only fifteen years old, who had captivated his fancy. The diary reads:

"Mon. Nov. 7. Sat out some Time before Day on a Journey to Northampton to visit Mistress Esther Edwards to treat of Marriage: got to Worcester comfortably, tho' something stormy: lodged at Mr. Goodwin's.

"Tues. 8. Had a pleasant Day to ride in; got to Cold springs in the Evening: lodged at Mr. Billing's the Minister, where I was very comfortably entertained.

"Wed. 9. Got safe to Northampton: obtained the Liberty of the House: in the Evening heard Mr. Searle preach at an House in the Neighbourhood from, by Grace are ye saved.

"Thurs. 10. I spent chief of the Day with Mistress Esther, in whose Company

the more I am, the greater value I have for her.

"Frid. 11. The Young Lady being obliged to be from Home, I spent the Day in copying off something remarkable Mr. Edwards hath lately received from Scotland. Spent the Evening with Mistress Esther.

"Sat. 12. Spent part of the Day upon the business I came about.

"Mon. 14. I could not obtain from the Young Lady the Least Encouragement to come again: the chief Objection she makes is her Youth, which I hope will be removed in Time. I hope the disappointment will be sanctified to me and that the Lord will by his providence order it so that this shall be my Companion for Life. I think I have followed Providence not gone before it."

Yet this Reverend Joseph Emerson was not a lover to be despised. He himself

came of a priestly family, and one of his line afterward made Concord as famous as Jonathan Edwards had made Northampton. Though but twenty-four at the time he went forth in the hope of bringing home Esther Edwards as his bride, he had already been to Louisburg as chaplain of Sir William Pepperell's expedition, and had preached for some time in the town he had caused to be named in honour of that doughty warrior. That his love for Esther Edwards, then a maiden of fifteen, had in it something of the exaltation to be observed in her father's love for her mother we cannot doubt. Certainly it was only after repeated rebuffs from the girl and strenuous struggles with himself that this country parson ceased to press his suit, and reluctantly gave up for all time whatever hope he may have cherished that Esther Edwards would tell him "

yes."