The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-06-21
aesyerson.s Marriage. 4

Sornc aspectS, ana cnueu, M ai Soi' '>
should, with everybody made happy, 800
!" belinda !" Ind been married many fe,us'f
md her old tstimirer WAS approachisfg tniIty',
when he met with young iady OF t tH'tst
two, who produced strongimpressiohl pop.
him. She was little above the Iie,t 'VpI.
height, slender, but elegantly formed:
fa;r romnlexion, with q delicate tint OF the
rose; large hazel eyes, full OF hfc and feei-
ing. and IuXuriant hair OF a; rlch, SOIL au'
hurn. formed a combination OF attractions
which was eminently calculated to move
the heart OF a. youthful bachelor. In addi.
ton to all this the lady was admiraot;s
graceful; she rode, danced, and moved VIVID
elegant ease, and sang and played on the
harpsichord very sweetly. Add SUI! 10
these accomplishments the possession OF eS-
ce|lent good sense, very considerable cuiti.
yation. a warm heart, and a considerable
fortune. and it will not be difficult to I'M
derstand how the youthful Mr.. Jefferson
came to visit very frequently at the iady,S
residence, in the county OF Charles City. 4!
was called "The Forest, ana the name'oI
the lady was Mrs. Martha Shelton. heWas Il
daughter of John Wayies, an eminent lawyer
| and had married in her seventeenth wear TT !:
Bathurst SHELTON, who, dying III l'oo' iGl'
his Young wife widow at nineteen. AS !ile
three wears OF mourning began 10 eNpire
| the beautiful young lady found herseu 2e-
sieged at "The Forest by numerous v,s,
| tors q; these. three were fayoritcs With
the fair Mrs. Shelton, Of whom Mr.. fhomas
Jefferson was one. The tradition runs tha
the pretensions Of the rivals We're dccided
either bv the musical accomplishments OF the
Young counsellor or by the fears OF his oppo-
nents. The tale is differently related
arc version is that the two unfoT-
tunatc gentlemen encountered each other
| on Mrs, SkcIton's doorstep, but
hearing Jcfferson's violin and voice
accompanying the lady in pathetic song,
| gave up the contest thencefortn, ana re-
| tired without entering, convinced that tue
affair was beyond their control. The other
story is that all three met at the door, ana
agreed that they would take their turns.
Jefferson entered first, and the tones OF the
lady; in singing with her companion de-
priyed the listeners OF all hope. However
| this may be-. it is certain that the beautiful
widow consented to become Mrs. Jefferson,
and on - the 1st day of January.
HIP. there q was "a great 1estlVl "a,
WThe Forest Friends and kindred
assembled from far and near; there
was frolicking and dancing after the
labundsnt old fashion; and we lind fromthe
brifegroorn's notebook that the servants
and tiddiers,received fees from his especial
pocket. 1t showed without, but within all
was mirth and enjoyment, in the light and
warmth yof the great log fires, roaring in
Iheuor of the occasion. :fSoon after the per-
iformance of the ceremony the bridegroom
and his bride; set out in their carriage for
Z. Monticello" where Jefferson had COM
menced building in 1769, Just before the de-
struction by fire oi ,his patrimonial house OF
g ShadWela. The Journey was not to end
without tadyentJres. As they advanced
toward the mountains the snow in
creased in DEPTH, and finally they were
compelled to leave the carriage, and pro-
coed upon their way ON horseback. Stop
pinc to- rest, at :" Blenheim," the seat OF
Colonel Carter, where they found, however,
no one but an overseer, they lefti at sunset,
resolutelv bent upon reaching. Monticello
that night. 1t was eight miles distant, and
the road, which was rather mountain hrl-
dle-path than an honest highway, was incum-
bered with snow three feet deep. We may
fancy the sensations Of the newly-wedded
bride at the chill appearance OF the desolate
landscape as she passed along through the
| snow; but she was woman OF courage ana
| good Sense, and did not care for lnconNenl-
| encc. twas late when they arrived, and a
| cherries reception awaited them-or rather
| there was no reception at all. The fres
were all out, the servants. bad gone to bed,
| and the place was as dark and silent as the
grave. Conducting his wife to the little pa
ylion, which was the only part OF the house
| habitable at, the time, Jefferson proceeded
to kindle a fire and do the honors. On 4
| shelf behind some books part of a
bottle of wine was discoveries; and
this formed the supper OF the bride
groom and the bride. Far from being
annoyed or discounted by their reception,
however, it only served for a topic
of Jest and laughter. The young lady was
us light-hearted as bird, and sent her clear
| voice ringing through the dreary little pa
yilion as gayly as she had ever done in the
cheerful drawing-room of "Thc Forest
and thus the long hours Of the winter night
fled away like minutes, winged with laugh
ter, merriment, and seng.-John ESte's
Cooke, IN Hqrper's Magazine for July. ,.
=