Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1859-09-30
Jefferson's Wedding and His Wedding
Night.

y
!, was approaching thirty when he met with
young lady of twenty-five, who produced
10 strong impression upon him. She was
little above the medium height, slender, b,
Is elegantly formed. A fair complexion, wit
20 a delicate tint of the rose large hs
eel eyes, full of life and feeling and lux
% uriant hair of rich, soft auburn, formed
combination of attractions which were emi
ts nenily calculated to move the heart Of
:" youthful bachelor. In addition TO this, tn
lady was admirably graceful; she rode
danced and moved with elegant case, an,
sang and played on the harpsichord YER
sweefly. Add still to these accomplish
! meats the possession Of excellent goos
sense, very considerable cultivation, warn
, loving heart, and last, though not least, no,
table talents for housekeeping, and it viii
not be difficult to understand how The youth
ful Mr.. Jefferson came to visit very fire.
quently at the lady's residecne, in the coun-
ty of Charles City. 1t was called ''The
Forest" and the name of the lady was
Mrs. Martha Skelton. She was daueh-
ter of John Wayles, an eminent lawyer,
and had married in her seventeenth year
Mr.. Bathurst Skclton, who, dying in l768,
left bis Young wife widow at nineteen.
As the three years of mourning began 10
expire, the beautiful young lady found her
self besieged at "The Forest by numerous
visitors. Of these, three were favorites
with the fair Mrs. Shelton, of whom Thorn
as jefferson was one. The tradition runs
that the pretentions of the rivals were de-
cded, either by the musical accomplish
ments of the young counsellor, or by the
fears of his opponents. The tale is differ
emily rela ed. One version is, that the two
unfortunate gentlemen encountered each
other on Mrs. Skelton's door step, but hear
ing Mr.. .Iefferson's violin and voice accom-
panying the lady in pathetic song, gave
up the contest thenceforth and retired with
out entering convinced that the affair W; s
beyond their control.
The story is, that all three met at the
door, and agreed that they would take their
turns. Mr.. Jefferson entered first. and the |
tones of the lady in singing with her COM
panion deprived the listeners of all hope I
However this may be, ii is certain that the
beautiful widow consented 10 become Mrs. /
Jefferson; and on the first day of January
1772, there was a great festival at "Ihe
Forest" Friends and kindred assembled I
from far and near-there was frolicking /
and dancing after the abundant cd fashion
and we find from the brideeroom's note
book that the servants and fddlers received !
fees from his especial pocket. 1t showed
without, bet within all was mirth and en-
joyment, in the light and warmth Of the
great log fires, roaring in honor of the oc-
casion. Soon after the performance of the
ceremony, the bridegroom and biz bride set
out in their carriage for Monticello" where
Mr.. Jefferson had commenced building in
1863, just before the destruction by fire Of
his patrmonial house of 'Shadwell.' The
journey was not to end without adventures l
As they advanced toward the mountains,
the snow increased in depth, and finally {
they were compelled to leave the carriage 5
and proceed on their way on horseback, I
Stopping to rest at "Blenheim," the seat of {
Col. Carter, where he found, however, no c
one but an overseer, they left at sunset,
resolutely bent on reaching Monticello be- '
fore night. 1t was eight miles distant, and '
the road, which was rather = mountain bri- {
die path thar an honest highway, was en- G
with snow three feet deep. We
NAV fancy the sensations Of the newly
welded bride at the chill appearance OF the '
1esolate landscape, as she passed along a
through the snow but she was woman s
If courage and good sense, and did not care Y
or inconvenience.
1t was late when they arrived, and a
,heerless reception awaited them--or rath- y
II, there was no reception at all. The i
Tres we're all our, the servants had gone to
,ed. and the place was as dark and silent
IS the grave. Conducting his wife to the :
title pavilion, which was the only part of 9
he house habitable at the time, Mr.. Jeffer- J
on proceeded to do the honors On shelf
ehind some hooks. part of bottle of wine :"
ras discovered; and this formed the supper
the bridegroom and bride. Far from be- q
1g annoyed or discounted by their recep- !.
on, however, it only served for topic of u
st and laughter. The young lady was as I, =
Terry and igttheared as a bird, aud sent ?
cr clear voice ringing through the dreary ~
tile pavilion as galy as she had ever done 9.
the cheerful drawingroom of "The For
st." Thus the long hours of the winter 3
ight fed away like minutes, winged with 10
lighter, merrment AMI song. The vigil !"
as a mirthful incident rather than a trial ~
their equanimity. They were yonng, u
I'd they had just been married. When
lnds are clasped, and hearts beat close To- !"
.ther. there IS very little gloom in dark
sss, and winter nights are not cold. This wi
tile moral sentiment viii not, hope, be "a
iticised as too romantic for the dignity of yo
story" 1t doubtless explains how a
,ung lady and gentlemen, both used 10 sir
cry comfort and luxury, found the gloomy fa'
tie pavilion in the midst of three feet of ale
ow, neither dark nor cold, on that Janu- ed
y night long ago. an
---- ho
H..