, 1859-09-09

VI oeueisoor IL tne NeW 1otk te1faTy:--
belinda (Jeiorson's first loyc) had bee,
married many years, and her old a1mirer va
approaching thirty, when LIE met with q youn,
lady OF twenty-five, who oproduced strong i'm
preston upon him. She was little above Ii.
| medium height slender, but elegantly formed
A tair complexion, with delicate tint Of tue
rose; Large hagcl eyes, full Of life and feeling:
aud luxurinnt hair Of rich, soft auburn, form
cd combination Of attractions which wert
| emsneatly calculated to more the heart Of q
youthful bachelor. In addition to ali this the
iady was Admiralty graceful; sho rode, dnnced
and moved with elegant ease, and sang aud
played On the bapsichord very sweotiy.
Add still to these accomplishments the pos.
session Of excellent good sense, very consider.
able cultivation, warm, loving heart and last,
though not least, notable talents for house.
keeping, mud it will not be difficult to under.
stand how tho youthful Mr. Jefferson came to
visit very frequently ut the lady's residence in
the county Of Charles City. 1t was called
"Tle Forest" and the name Of the lady was
Mrs. Martha Skelton. Size was duughter
u John Wayles, an eminent lawyer,
aud had mar1ied in her seventeenth year,
Mr.. Bathurst Shelton, who, dying in l768, LETT
his ypung wife widow at nine1een. As tho
uirea years Of mourning began to expire, the
beautiful young Indy found herself besiegod
at The Forest By numerous visitors Of these
1hree were fayorites with the lair Mrs Skel-
ton, of whom Mr. Thomas Jefferson was
one. The tradition runs that the pretensions
Of the rivals were decided either by the n,usi-
cal accomplishments Of the young counsellor,
OF BY the fears Of lis opponents Tho tale is
differently related. One version is that the
two unfortunate gentlemen encountered each
other on Mrs. Skeletons doorstep, but hearing
Mr Jeiterson's violin and voice accompanying
tile lady in pathetic song, gave up the con
test thcncefwth and retired without entering,
courinced TINT the affair was beyond their
control.
Tho other story is, that all three met at the
door, and agreed TINT they would take their
turna. Mr.. Jefferson entered first, and the
tones Of the lady in singing With her compan-
ion deprived tho listeners Of all hope. Low
ever this may be, it is certain that tho beautiful
widow consented to become Mrs Jefferson;
and On the first Of January, 1872, there was
great festival at "Tho Forest" Friends and
kindred assembled from far and uear-tbcro
was frolicking aud dancing after tile abundant
old tiashion-and VIC find from the brideg.oom's
notebook that the servants aid fddler's re-
It showed without r bnt ~;fhn iAs ~ ,ros ,n;-tb
and enjoyment in tho Echt and x-a-,n.1, aT.1
great loc ireg roaring n hanor Inn ~ W .a y, a <.ao
noa ~ 1h h.;s1a atser Luz pc.loanee o. uae ceTe
uo' sno ollacloo1n ana aug p,,ae set out IN
insta 4a,1;as. en11ags 1 lor Aoa!'ceuo' where NJ
:saGson :'''. uau somnenceo oulla1ng N l76s'
!uss nG'Jto no .ne " ~ nfe o. us patFl"
...ou .uoum! ~ aoase u enaoweh Inc Journey
~, WAS oos 70 eno "ataont aasentufes. AS they
aasaueeu eaa1a 'e"ado ule mountains Tue Snow in
so,,sS - ~ eepu a'lo anauy the5 were con-
!, leuou u lesl'e tae carriage ano proceed upon
tac.r way on horseback /
=, osoPpsog 70 resi- az Bienhelm the scat Of
col Garter, where they found, however, no
one but an oEeEseer they left it at sunset, reso-
Eute'y bent upon reaching Monticello before
night It was eight miles distant and the |
road s' which was rather mountain bride path
man an honest highway. was encountered with |
snow three 1cet deep. We may fancy the sen
sat'ons ot the owly,wedded bride at the chill
appearance Of tue dcsolate landscape, as she
passed along tue snow; but she wns woman
u courage aud gcod sense and did not care for
inconvenience 1t was late when they arrived,
4iia 2 cnecfless reception awaited thcm-or
'osacF mere was no reception at all The fires