Thomas Jefferson, a Character Sketch | Page 3

happened that one evening, two of the gentlemen called at the
same time at her father's house. They were friends, and were about to
pass from the hall into the drawing-room, when they paused at the
sound of music. Some one was playing a violin with exquisite skill,
accompanied by the harpsicord, and a lady and gentleman were
singing.
There was no mistaking the violinist, for there was only one in the
neighborhood capable of so artistic work, while Mrs. Skelton had no
superior as a player upon the harpsicord, the fashionable instrument of
those days. Besides, it was easy to identify the rich, musical voice of

Jefferson and the sweet tones of the young widow.
The gentlemen looked significantly at each other. Their feelings were
the same.
"We are wasting our time," said one; "we may as well go home."
They quietly donned their hats and departed, leaving the ground to him
who had manifestly already pre-empted it.
On New Year's day, 1772, Jefferson and Mrs. Skelton were married
and no union was more happy. His affection was tender and romantic
and they were devoted lovers throughout her life. Her health and
wishes were his first consideration, and he resolved to accept no post or
honor that would involve their separation, while she proved one of the
truest wives with which any man was ever blessed of heaven. The death
of his father-in-law doubled Jefferson's estate, a year after his marriage.
His life as a gentleman farmer was an ideal one, and it is said that as a
result of experimentation, Jefferson domesticated nearly every tree and
shrub, native and foreign, that was able to stand the Virginia winters.
Jefferson's commanding ability, however, speedily thrust him into the
stirring incidents that opened the Revolution. In September, 1774, his
"Draught of Instructions" for Virginia's delegation to the congress in
Philadelphia was presented. The convention refused to adopt his radical
views, but they were published in a pamphlet and copies were send to
England, where Edmund Burke had it republished with emendations of
his own.
Great Britain viewed the paper as the extreme of insolence and
punished the author by adding his name to the list of proscriptions
enrolled in a bill of attainder.
Jefferson was present as a member of the convention, which met in the
parish church at Richmond, in March, 1775, to consider the course that
Virginia should take in the impending crisis. It was at that meeting that
Patrick Henry electrified his hearers with the thrilling words:

"Gentlemen may cry, 'Peace, peace!' but there is no peace! The war has
actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the North will bring to
our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the
field. Why stand we here idle? What is it the gentlemen wish? What
would they have? Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at
the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not
what course others may take, but as for me, GIVE ME LIBERTY, Or
GIVE ME DEATH!"
Within the following month occurred the battle of Lexington.
Washington, Jefferson and Patrick Henry were members of the
committee appointed to arrange a plan for preparing Virginia to act her
part in the struggle. When Washington, June, 20, 1775, received his
commission as commander-in-chief of the American army, Jefferson
succeeded to the vacancy thus created, and the next day took his seat in
congress.
A few hours later came the news of the battle of Bunker Hill.
Jefferson was an influential member of the body from the first. John
Adams said of him: "he was so prompt, frank, explicit and decisive
upon committees that he soon seized upon every heart." Virginia
promptly re-elected him and the part he took in draughting the
Declaration of Independence is known to every school boy.
His associates on the committee were Franklin, John Adams, Roger
Sherman and Robert R. Livingston. It was by their request that he
prepared the document (see fac-simile, page 49,) done on the second
floor of a small building, on the corner of Market and Seventh Streets.
The house and the little desk, constructed by Jefferson himself, are
carefully preserved.
The paper was warmly debated and revised in congress on the 2nd, 3rd
and 4th of July, 1776. The weather was oppressively hot, and on the
last day an exasperating but providential invasion of the hall by a
swarm of flies hurried the signing of the document. Some days
afterward, the committee of which Jefferson was a member provided as

a motto of the new seal, that perfect legend,--E Pluribus Unum.
The facts connected with the adoption of the Declaration of
Independence must always be of profound interest. The public are
inclined to think that our