The Shasta courier., 1859-11-05
Jefferson's Wedding and HIS WeddieR
Night.

The following pleasing picture is from the
Early Days of Jefferson" in the New York
Century;
Belinda" (Jefferson's first love) had been
married many years, and her old admirer was
approaching thirty, when he met with o young
lady of twenty-five, who produced strong i'm
preston upon him. She was q little above the
medium height, slender, but elegantly formed.
fair complexion, with delicate tint of the
rose large hazel eyes, full of life and feeling
and luxuriant hair, Of rich soft auburn, formed
a combination of attractions which were erni--
nently calculated to move the heart Of YOUTH
full 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 harpsichord very sweetly. Add still to
these accomplishments the possession of excel
lent good sense, very considerable cultivation,
warm, loving heart, and last, though not
least, notable talents for house keeping, and it
Will not be difficult to understand how the
youthful Mr.. Jefferson came to visit very fire.
quently at the lady's residence, in the county of
Charles City 1t was called " The Forest and
the name of the lady was Mrs Martha Shelton.
She was a daughter of John Wayles, an eminent
lawyer, and had married in her seventeenth
year, Mr.. Bathurst Shelton, who dying in I7ee,
lett ms young wife a widow atsnineteen. As
the three years Of mourning began to expire, the
beautiful young lady found herself besieged at
" The Forest" by numerous visitors. OF these
three were favorites with the fair Mrs Shelton,
OF whom Mr.. Thomas Jefferson was one The
tradition runs that the pretentions of the rivals
were decided, either by the musical accom-
pllshmentS of the young counsellor, or by the
fears OF his opponents. The tale is differently
related. One version is, that the two unfortu-
nate gentlemen encountered each other on Mrs.
Skelto3s doorstep, but hearing Mr.. Jeferson's
violin and voice accompanying the lady in a pa
thetic song, gave up the contest thenceforth and
retired without entering, conceiying that the af-
fair was beyond their control.
The other stery is, that all three met at the
door, and agreed that they would take their
turns. Mr.. Jefferson entered frst, and the tones
of the lady in singing with her companion de-
priVed the listeners of all hope. However this
may be, it is certain that the beautiful widow
consented to become Mrs. Jefferson; ano on the
first day OF January, 1872, there was gre9t
festival at The Forest" Friends and kindred
assembled far and near-there was frolicking and
dancing after the abundant old fashon-and we
find from the bridegroom's notebook that the
servants and fddlers received fees from his es-
pecial pocket. 1t showed without, but within
all was mirth and enjoyment, in the light and
warmth of the great log fires, roaring in honor
VI IhN pSNtlSAOL- DOOu ditSf the performance OF
the ceremony, the bridegroom and his bride set
out in their carriage for Monticello" ;" where Mr.
Jefferson had commenced building in 1863, last
before the destruction by fire of his patrmonial
house of Shadwell." The journey was not to
end without adventures AS they advanced to-
wards the mountains, the snow increased in
depth, and finally they compelled 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. 1t was eight miles distant, and the road,
which was rather a mountain bride path than
an honest highway, was encountered with snow
three feet deep. We may fancy the sensations
Of the newly-wedded bride at the chill appear
ance of the desolate landscape, as she passed
along through the snow but she was woman
of courage and good sense and did not care for
Inconvenience. 1t was late when they arrived
and cheerless reception awaited them-or ra-
ther, 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.. Jefferson proceeded to do the honors
On shelf behind some books, part of bottle
of wine was discovered; and this formed the
supper of the bridegroom and the bride. Far
from being annoyed or discounted by their re-
ception, however, it only served for topic of
jest and laughter. The young lady was as mer-
ry and light-hearted as bird, and sent her
clear voice ringing through the dreary little pa
yilion 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 was mirthful incident rather
than trial of their equanimity They were
young-and they had just been married. When
hands are clasped, and hearts beat close togeth-
err 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 fer the "dignity of history" It doubt
less explains how 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 Jan
uary night long agol