The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1859-10-19
JeRsrson's wedding and his Wedding
Might.

The following pleasing picture Is from the
Early days Of jefferson, in the New iork
Century:
Belinda (Jefferson's first love) had been
married many years. and her old admlrer was
approaching thirty, when he met with young
lady Of twenty-five, who produced q strong
impression upon him. She was little above
the medium hight, slender, but elegantly
formed. A fair complexion, with delicate a..
tint Of the rose large hazle eyes, fuii OF iiie
and feeling and luxurant hair OF r1cn sou
auburn, formed a combination OF attractions
which were eminently calculated to move ule
heart of a youthful bachelor. In adaition 70
all this, the lady was admirably gracelul sue
rode, danced and moved with elegant ease, anu
sang and played on the harpsicord very s"e ~
| ly. Add still to these accomplishments uie
possession of excellent good sense, very con
siderable cultivation, warm, loving nea -,
and last, though not least, notable talents lor
housekeeping, and it will not be dIncuH W
understand how the youthful MI. 'eIeIson
came to visits very frequently at t1e iaay -
residence, in the county OF Charies oity.
Us caiIed "The Forest" and the name of the
,.dv mas Mrs. Martha SHELTON. She was
4 daughter of John Wayles, an eminent lawyer;
Bathurst SHELTON, who, dying in 1768, LETT his
ro,,no vv;sa a widow at nineteen. As the
three wears of mourning began to expire, the
beautiful Young lady found herself besieged
at aThe Forest by numerous visitors OF
these three were fayorites with the fair Mrs.
| skeleton. of whom Mr.. Thomas Jefferson was
one. The tradition runs that the pretenslons
| of the rivals were decided, either by the mu-
steal accomplishments of the counsellor or by
the fears of his opponents. The tale is diff
ferently related. One version is that the two
| unfortunate gentlemen encountered each other
on Mrs. Skeletons door step, but hearing Mr..
Jefferson's violin and voice accompanying the
lady in q pathetic song, gave up the contest
| thenceSorth and retired without entering, con-
WINGED that the affair was beyond their control
The other 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 compan-
ion deprived the listeners of all hope. How
ever this may be, it is certain that the beauti-
full widow consented to become Mrs. Jeffer-
son /; and on the first day of January, 1772,
there was great festival at 'The Forest"-
Friends and kindred assembled from far and
near-there was frolicking and dancing after
the bridegToom's notebook that the servants
and 6ddlers received fees from his especial
pocket. 1t showed without, but within all
was mirth and enjoyment, in the light and
warmth of the great log fires, roaring in honor
of the occasion. Soon after the performance
of the ceremony, the bridegroom and his bride
set out in their carriage for Monticello"
where Mr.. Jefferson had commenced building
-, A,fo, - - r.
his patrimonial house of "Shadwell" The
journey was not to end without adventures.
As they advanced toward the mountains the
snow increased in depth, and finally they were
compiled to leave the carriage and proceed
upon their way on horseback. Stopping to
rest at "Blenheim,'' the seat of Col. Carter,
where they found, however, no one but an
overseer, they left it at sunset, resolutely bent
| upon reaching Monticello before night. TWAS
| eight miles distant, and the road, which was
rather mountain bride path than an honest
highway, was encountered with snow three
feet Deep We may fancy the sensations of
the newly welded bride at the chill appear
ance Of the desolate landscape, as she passed
along through the snow but she was wo-
man of courage and good sense, and did not
care for inconvenience. 1t was late when
| tQ6y arrived, anU CleeT1eSS reCeptlOn avail
| ted them-or rather, there was no reception at
ALL The fires were all out, the servants had
| gone to bed, and the place was as dark and
silent as the grave. Conducting his wife to
the little pavilion, which was the only part
| of the house habitable at the time, Mr.. Jeffer-
son proceeded to do the honors. On a shelf
behind some books, part Of a bottle of wine
was discovered; and this formed the supper
of the bridegroom and bride. Far from being
annoyed or disconnected by their reception,
however, it only served for topic of jest and
laughter. The young lady was as merry and
light hearted as bird and sent her clear voice
ringing through the dreary little pavilion as
gaily as she had ever done in the cheerful
drawing-room Of "The Forest" Thus the
long hours of the winter night fed away like
minutes, winged with laughter, merriment
and song. The vigil wasa mirthful incident
rather than trial of their equanimity. They
were young-and they had just been mar
ried. When hands are clasped, and hearts
beat close together, there is very little gloom
in darkness, and winter nights are not cold
This little moral sentiment will not, hope,
be criticised as too romantic for the dignity
of history" 1t doubtless explains how a
young lady and gentleman, both used to every
comfort and luxury, found the gloomy little
pavilion in the midst of three feet of snow
neither dark nor cold, on that January night
long ago