Even under these circumstances Martha Pierson would probably have consented to unite her fate with Adam Colburn 's , and , secure of the bliss of mutual love , would patiently have awaited the less important gifts of Fortune . But Adam , being of a calm and cautious character , was loth to relinquish the advantages which a single man possesses for raising himself in the world . Year after year , therefore , their marriage had been deferred . Adam Colburn had followed many vocations , had travelled far and seen much of the world and of life . Martha had earned her bread sometimes as a sempstress , sometimes as help to a farmer 's wife , sometimes as schoolmistress of the village children , sometimes as a nurse or watcher of the sick , thus acquiring a varied experience the ultimate use of which she little anticipated . But nothing had gone prosperously with either of the lovers ; at no subsequent moment would matrimony have been so prudent a measure as when they had first parted , in the opening bloom of life , to seek a better fortune . Still , they had held fast their mutual faith . Martha might have been the wife of a man who sat among the senators of his native State , and Adam could have won the hand , as he had unintentionally won the heart , of a rich and comely widow . But neither of them desired good-fortune save to share it with the other . At length that calm despair which occurs only in a strong and somewhat stubborn character and yields to no second spring of hope settled down on the spirit of Adam Colburn . He sought an interview with Martha and proposed that they should join the Society of Shakers . The converts of this sect are oftener driven within its hospitable gates by worldly misfortune than drawn thither by fanaticism , and are received without inquisition as to their motives . Martha , faithful still , had placed her hand in that of her lover and accompanied him to the Shaker village . Here the natural capacity of each , cultivated and strengthened by the difficulties of their previous lives , had soon gained them an important rank in the society , whose members are generally below the ordinary standard of intelligence . Their faith and feelings had in some degree become assimilated to those of their fellow-worshippers . Adam Colburn gradually acquired reputation not only in the management of the temporal affairs of the society , but as a clear and efficient preacher of their doctrines . Martha was not less distinguished in the duties proper to her sex . Finally , when the infirmities of Father Ephraim had admonished him to seek a successor in his patriarchal office , he thought of Adam and Martha , and proposed to renew in their persons the primitive form of Shaker government as established by Mother Ann . They were to be the father and mother of the village . The simple ceremony which would constitute them such was now to be performed .
`` Son Adam and daughter Martha , '' said the venerable Father XXXXX , fixing his aged eyes piercingly upon them , `` if ye can conscientiously undertake this charge , speak , that the brethren may not doubt of your fitness . ''
Adam Colburn Ephraim Martha Shakers fellow-worshippers first sempstress watcher year