The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-01-05
NO2
JEFF ERsON,s WEDDING.

IL GAGOGs W GOOA1sQs
The following pleasing pie ure is fron
the Early Days of Jefferson, in the New
York Century:
"Belinds! s!'-Jefferso FIRST love-bad
been married many years, and ber old
adDiIer was approaching thirty when be
net with young lady OF twenty two,
who produced strong Impression upon
him. She vas little above the medium
beie ht. slender, but eegantly formed. 4
far complexion With a delicate tint of
the rose; large hazel eyes, full of lite and
feeling, and luxuriant hair of rich, soft
auburn, formed a combination Of attrae-
tlon- which we're eDinently calculs sted to
move the beart of youthful bschsIor.-
In addition to all this, the lady was sd-
mirably graceful; she rode, danced, and
moved with an elegant ease, and sang
and played on the harpsichord very
sweetly. Add still TO these accomplish
ments the possession of excellent good
sense, very eon-iderable cultivation, a
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 frequently at the lady's resi-
depce, in the county of Charles City. 1t
was called The Forest" and the name
of the lady was Mrs Martha Skelton-
She was daughter Of John Wayles, an
eminent lawyer, and had married. in her
seventeenth year, Mr. Bathurst Shelton,
who, dying in seventeen hundred and
sixty y-eigbt, left his young wife widow
at nineteen. As the three years of mourn
ing began to expire, the beautiful lady
found herself besiegod st "Tbe Forest"
by numerous visitors. OF these, three
we're fayorites with the fair y rs Shelton,
Of whom Mr.. Thomas Jefferson was oue
1t is said that the preteDsious of the RI
walls were decided either By the musical
mplishUents of the counsellor, or by
the fears of bis opponents; that the uu-
fortunate gentlemen encountered each
other on Mrs. Ske:ons doorstep, but,
hearing Mr.. Jefferson's violin and voice
accompanying the lady in pathetic song,
gave up the contest thenceforth, and re-
tired without entering. oonsin inced that the
affair was beyond their control. Howev-
er this may te, it is certain that the beau
ti'ul widow consented to become Mrs.
Jefferson; aud on the first day of Jauua-
ry, seventeen hundred and seventy-two,
there wa~ great festival at 1.-The For
est" Friend sud kindred Assem- bled
from far aud near. There las frolicking
aud dancing after the abundant old fash
ioU; and We find from the bridekroom's
note book that the servants and fddlers
received fees from bis especial pocket
1t showed without, but within all was
mirtb and enjoys mert. in the light and
warmth Of the great log fires, roaring in
honor of the occasion. Soon after the
performance OF the ceremony. the BRIDE
groom and bis bride set out in their car
riage for Monticello, where Mr. JeFer-
son bad commenced building ia seventeen
hundred and sixty nine. just before the
destruction by fire of hi- patrimonial
house OF "Shakwell' The Journey was
not to end without adventures As they
advanced toward the mountains the
snow increased in depth, aud finally they
were compelled to leave the carriage and
proceed upon their way on horseback
Stopping TO rest at "Blenheiu," the seat
of Colonel Garter, where they found, how
ever, no one bat an ogcrseer they left it
at sunset, resolntely bent upon reaching
Monticello before night. h was eight
miles distant, aud the road which was
rather a mountain bridle path than an
honest highway, was eneunl bered with
snow three eet deep. 1t was late when
they arrived. and cherries reception a.
waited theu--or rather, there was 10 re-
ceptiou at all The fires wers all out, the
servants bad gone to bed, and the place
was dark and silent 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
donors. On shelf behind some books.
part of bottle of wine was discovered;
and this formed the supper OF the bride
groom aud the bride. Far from being
annoyed or discou 6ted by their reeept ton,
it only served afterwards as a topic Of
jest and laughter.