A Love Story
Submitted by: Jerry Swenson

John Loker, who was said to have been wealthy and aristocratic in his feeling, [and his wife Mary Draper] had only one daughter, Mary. She was very fair and of good promise, and they set their hearts on her marrying a lawyer. When they found out that there was a strong attachment between Mary and the young blacksmith, Jonas Prescott, they pursued a course well calculated to foster this unwanted relationship.

They forbade his entering their house or having any communications whatever with their daughter. They also grated the windows of her room, and when they thought there was any danger of an interview between them, they locked her in. Jonas and Mary, however, were not to be baffled by grates and locks.

Jonas took opportunities, when the cold night wind blew and the pelting storm raged, when no listener could overhear their soft whisperings, to place himself beneath her grated window and there enjoy the sweet communion with his beloved Mary. There intercourse, however, was soon discovered. They then placed her under the care of a guardian in Chocksett, now called Sterling.

Jonas searched the country around, and made diligent inquiry to find the place of her banishment. At length, being one day in the wilds of Chocksett, he made his usual inquiry of some young men he saw, if they had any pretty girls in their neighborhood. They told him there was to be a quilting that very day, where all their girls would be. They were going that evening to dance, and invited him along, where he might see for himself. He accepted the invitation, and on arriving at the cottage where all were assembled, whom should he see but his beloved Mary Loker. This was indeed to them a happy adventure.

Concealing as well as they could their former acquaintance, they were partners at the dance, and made arrangements for future meetings. He continued to see her until her parents found out and took her home. She was then told that she must reject this blacksmith and receive a lawyer.

She refused to marry anyone but Jonas Prescott. The response was that she would be disinherited; a decree for marriage without dowry followed.

They were married soon afterward, and the traditions say that her only implements for boiling was a two quart kettle, and her wash tub was the shell of a large pumpkin. However, they were very happy and had many offspring.