The Nevada journal., 1859-10-28


had been married many years. and
her old admirer was approaching thir-
ty, when he met with young lady
Of twenty-five, who produced strong
impression upon him. She was lit
tie above the medium height, slender,
but elegantly formed. A fair COM
plexion, with delicate tint of the rose:
large bazle eyes, full of life and feel
ing and luxuriant hair Of rich soft
auburn, formed combination of at
fractions hich were eminently calcu-
lated to move the heart of youthful
| bachelor. In addition to all this, the
lady was admirably graceful; she rode,
danced and moved with elegant ease.
and sang and played on the harpsi-
chord very sweetly. Add still to
these accomplishments the possession
of excellent good sense, very consid-
erable cultivation, warm, loving
heart, and last. though not least, no.
table talents for housekeeping, and
it will not be difficult to understand
how the youthful Mr.. Jefferson came
| to visit very frequently at the lady's
residence, in the county of Charles
City. 1t was called "The Forest"
and the lady was Mrs. Martha Skel-
ton. She was daughter Of John
Wayles, an eminent lawyer. and had
married in her sevente enth year, Mr.
Bathurst Shelton, who dying in 176S,
left his young wife widow at nine
teen. As the three years of mourn
ing began to expire, the beautiful
young lady found herself besieged at
1.-The Forest" by numerous visitors.
Of these, three were favorites with
the fair Mrs. Shelton, of whom Mr..
Thomas Jefferson was one. The ira.
dition runs that the pretentions of the
rivals were decided, either by the
musical accomplishments of the young
counselor, or by the fears of his op-
ponents. The tale is differently re-
lated. One version is, that the two
unfortunate gentleman encountered
each other on Mrs. Skeletons door
step. but hearing Mr.. Jefferson's vio-
lin and voice accompanying the lady
in a pathetic song, gave up the con-
test thenceforth aad retired without
} entering, conceiving 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.. Jeffer-
son entered first, and the tones of the
lady in singing with her companion
. deprived the listeners of all hope:-
However this may be, it is certain
/ that the beautiful widow consented to
, become Mrs. Jefferson and on the
, first day of January, 1872, there was
: great festival at THE Forest. -
t Friends and kindred assembled from
, far and near-there was frolicking
and dancing after the abundant old
, fashion-and we find from the bride
! groom's note book that the servants
aud fiddlers rec lived fees from his es-
pecial pocket. 1t showed without,
but within all was milth and enjoy
nent, in the light and warmth OF the
great log fires, roaring in honor Of the
occasion. Soon after the performance
, Of the ceremony, bridegroom and his
J bride set out in their carriage for
sMonticello," where Mr.. Jefferson
had commenced building in 1869, just
before the destruction by fire of his
patrimonial house of "Shadwell."- y
The journey was not to end without
adventures. As they advanced to-
wards the mountains, the snow in
creased in depth, and finally they
were compelled to leave the carriage
and proceed upon their way on horse
back. Stopping to rest at "Blenheim,' -
the seat of Col. Carter, where they
found, however. no one but an over
seer, they left it at sunset. resolutely
bent upon reaching Monticello before
night. 1t was eight miles distant,
and the road which was rather a
: mountain bride path than an honest
highway, was encumbeied with snow
three feet deep. We may fancy the
sensations of the newly wly-wedded bride
at the chill appearance of the DESC
late landscape, as she passed along
through the snow, but she was a wo-
man OF courage and good sense, and
did not care for Inconvenience. 1t
was late when they arrived. and a
cherries reception awaited them-or
rather. there was no reception at all.
The fires were all cut, the servants
had gone to bed, and the place was
as dark and silent as the grave. Con-
ducting his wife to the little pavilion,
which was the only part of the house
habitable at the time. Mr.. Jefferson
proceeded to do the honors. On a
shelf behind some books, part of
bottle of wine was discovered and
this formed the supper of the BRIDE
groom and the bride. Far from be-
ing annoyed or discom6ted by their
reception, however, it only served for
a 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 lit
the pavilion as gaily as she had ever
done in the cheerful drawing-room of
1.-The Forest" Thus the long hours
of the winter night fed away like
minutes, winged with laugh.er, merr-