Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-06-22
u W III \ "VW
Publisher and Propri
IeHarnon,a Marriage.

L. Iub dlldlI Mdo uulJO ~ llJUlC SOul-
edy in some aspects, and ended, as
all comedies should, with everybody
made happy.
"Belinda" had been married
many years, and her old admirer
was approaching thirty, when he
met with young lady of twenty
two who produced strong impress
sion upon him. She was little
above the medium hight, slender,
but elegantly formed. A fair COM
plexion, with delicate tint of the
rose, large, hazel eyes full of life
and feeling, and lrvuriAnt hair Of
a rich, soft auburI, forLl'd a COM
bination of attractions which was
eminently calculated to move the
heart of youthful bachelor. In
addition to all this, the lady was ad-
mirably 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
elegant good sense, very considera.
BILE cultivation, warm heart, and
a considerable fortune, and it vii
: not be difficult to understand how
the youthful Mr.. Jefferson came tt
visit very frequently at the LADY,
= residence, in the county Of Charlie
!: City. It was called "The Forest,
: and the name of the lady was Mrs
Martha Shelton. She was a daugh
ter of John Wayles, an eminen
lawyer, and had married, in he
seventeenth year, Mr.. Bathurs
Shelton, who, dying in 176S, lef
+ his young wife a widow at nine
}. teen. AS the three years of mourn
n ing began to expire, the beautiful
n young lady found herself besiege'
: at "The Forrest by many visitors
I Ofthese, three were favorites wit,
the fair Mrs. Shelton, of whom MI
Thomas Jefferson was one. Th
! tradition runs that the pretension
j Of the rivals were decided either b
Y the musical accomplishments Q
e the young counselor or by the feal
Of his opponents. The tale is in
5 differently related. One version
that the two unfortunate gentle
z men encountered each other o
Mrs. Skeletons doorstep, but heal
ing Jefferson's violin and voice az
: companylng the lady in patheti
q r song, gave up the contest Themes
forth and retired without enterin!
RS convinced that the affair was b.
q, yond their control. The otht
o. story is that all three met at tt
i, door, and agreed that they woul
:. take their turns. Jefferson enter(
IL first, and the tones of the lady
N IN singing with her companion d
p priyed the listeners Of all hop
SSG So However this may be, it is certa
d that the beautiful widow consentC
ls. to BECOME Mrs. Jefferson; and
rs, n. the first day Of January, l772, the
gh was a great festival at "The FC
''' est" Friends and kindred gat
cred from far and near there W
frolicking and dancing after t
Isll abundant old fashion, and we fl
IN from the bridegroom's note-bo
ing e that the servants and fiddlers !
th- ceiYed fees from his especial pock
|. 1t showed without, but within
..n1t' was mirth and enjoyment, in t
=, light and warmth of the great
ffes, roaring in honor of the occ
r sion. Soon after the performar
of the ceremony, the bridegroC
and his bride set out in their c.
riage for Monticello, where jeff
SON had commenced building
1869, Just before the destruction
fire Of his patrimonial house
r~o I "Shadwell." The journey was
/ to end without adventures. AS Il
. advanced toward the mountai
~ the snow increased in depth, Q
b I finally they were compelled to le
- the carriage, and proceed ON I'll
way on horseback. Stopping
rest at "Blenheim," the seat
Colonel Carter, where they fou
Pes however, no one but an overs
), they left it at sunset, resolut
: bent upon reaching Monte
Ky that night. 1t was eight m
,ou,- distant, and the road, which
rather mountain bridle-path t
Nat -,