During a blizzard in the winter of 1744, the Reverend Smith, his family, relatives, and neighbors braved the icy winds and the great snowdrifts to reach the meetinghouse in Weymouth, Massachusetts. When they arrived, the Reverend Smith broke the ice to baptize his week-old daughter, "Abigail."

Abigail was a tiny, sickly baby, and her parents were afraid she would die. They wanted to be certain that she was baptized before she died.

Much to everyone's surprise, Abigail lived and grew up, but she was not strong enough to go to school. Her father tutored her at home, taught her to love books, and encouraged her to read wisely.

As the years passed, Abigail read all the books in her father's library and all the other books she could get. Also she listened closely to political discussions which took place in her father's home.

After Abigail became stronger, she often went to visit her grandparents, the Quincys, who lived close by the sea. During these visits her grandmother taught her how to be a lady—what to do, what to say, and what to wear in the presence of others.

Abigail also frequently visited her Uncle Isaac, a wealthy ship owner in Boston. During these visits, she met some of the most distinguished people in the city, and often was invited to their homes. She came to know many people in Boston.

In time Abigail became one of the best educated and most popular young women in the colonies. She met the sons of many wealthy landowners and ship owners, but she actually had very little interest in society or wealth. Finally, she chose to marry a young man, named John Adams, who possessed neither high social position nor wealth.

No one then realized that some day John Adams would become the first Vice President and the second President of the United States. Nor did they realize that Abigail would become the second First Lady of the Land and the mother of a later President of the United States. Abigail Adams is the only woman who ever has been both the wife of a President and the mother of a President.

Jean Brown Wagoner through the help of biographies and letters has written a realistic life story of Abigail Adams. She has painted a vivid picture of this remarkable woman, who played an important part in the early history of our country.

From the dust jacket