Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-18

~, Know All men by these presents that we.
Thomas Jefferson and Francis Eppes. are
held ana firmly bound to our sovereign
iord the King, his heirs and sue
cessors, in the sum of City pounds
current money of Virginia, to the pal
ment OF which well and truly TO be made
weoind ourselves Jointly and severally. our
Joint aud several heirs. executors, and adj
ininistratOrs. in witness whereof we have
hereto set our hands and seals this twenty
thifa day Of December. in the year OF our
Lord one thousand seven hundred and
seyenty-one. The condition Of the above
oDiigation is such that il there be no lawful
cause 70 obstruct marriage intended to
De had and solemnized between the above
pound Thomas Jefferson and Martha Skel-
ton OF the county Of Charles City. widow,
for which license is desired, then this OBJ
llgatlon is 10 be null and void. otherwise to
remain in full force"
The bridegroom set ont with his bride
Tor Monticello in q snow-storm and amid
shower OF rice and slippers. As they pro-
ceeded the snow became deeper and deeper
until at last they were obliged 10 quit their
equipage, and mounting horses made the
remainder OF the journey in the saddle.
Arriving at Monticello late at night, they
found the house. which was at that time
only pavilion, wrapt in gloom, the fires
imagine a more drcarv Homecoming?
After awaking the servants and finding a
bottle Of vino concealed behind some
books on the shelf. the young bride, for
getful of her surroundings, laughs and
sings, and her husband, pleased with her
merriment. looks on with admiring clances;
and thus they disappear into " the coming
Hood Of years uDspeakably happy.
A descendant Of Jeferson's showed me a
fCrfF l..
small gold lOcket intended to hang on n
watch-chain. To be sure il was pretty
little trinket, but compared TO its contents
II was yaueless. One side of this small
charm held a generous lock Of Mr.. Jeffer-
sons auburn hair. cut from his head after
death by loving hands and on the opposite
side Were few dark hairs tied together bv
bit of silk and representing one of the
few souvenirs Of Martha jefferson, she
having died early in life. This locket is TO
be presented 10 a characterization OF
this illustrious couple upon his arriving at
the age of twcntv-one.
Within the last few years an amusing in
cldent occurred to q greatgrandchlld of
Jeaersou's while on short visit to Virgil
MIA. While conversIng with Miss Shelton
the conversation turned upon ancestry,
and great was her surprise 10 discover that
she was talking TO descendant of Ba-
tina jefferson. IL seems that SHELTON was
widOwer with children when he married
Martha Wales; so that. though no tie Of
cOusanguinity, one was descended from
Martha Jeffersons husband and the other
from Martha herself. After Jefferson's
death an original poem was found IN his
pocket-book. where he had presumably
carried it for many years. in which he
speaks of his wife, the bride of his youth,
and q daughter awaiting his coming on
those celestial shores
LIES visions are vanished, its dreams are no
more,
Dear friends OF my bosom, why bathed in
tears;
| go 20 my Fathers: / welcome tho shore
Which crowns all my hopes or which buries
my cares.
Then farewell my dear. my loved daughter
adieu.
The last psng OF lifo Is In parting from you
Two serapbs await me, long shroudsd In DEAN;
will bear them your love on my last parting
breath.
These verses are now in the possession Of
hrs great-grend-children in Washington
and are esteemed a. of moro value than
Jewels. ROSE GoUvEREEUR HOES.