Mr Jefferson comes calling~a little story

You see, while we were lately traveling in Virginia, I happened upon a handsome country gentleman, sitting high on a shelf in the milliner's shop.

He immediately impressed upon me that he was perfect to take home to the Deerfield ladyes.

~They being weary

of too much female company.~

I invited Mr. Jefferson-his given name-for a cup of hot cider-at a nearby tavern tea room where we might discuss the possibility that he seriously consider a visit to our farm in Oregon.

He being a gentleman farmer himself was quite intrigued with the idea of seeing the workings of a farm on the western frontier.

I discreetly mentioned that there were also several unattached ladyes there that he might like to meet and he quickly agreed.

Well, I'm quite sure that you can imagine all the high pitched interest that arose at seeing the large brown paper & string wrapped parcel when I brought out the trinkets & treasures I had gathered to bring home to the "girls".

The tiny fans and wee drawstring bags were quickly thrown aside and forgotten as they all ran and stopped at screeching halt to see this handsome gentleman farmer from Virginia emerge from his brown paper wrappings.

For he, indeed, is quite handsome. Stately & broad shouldered, his carved wooden face had been carefully chiseled to show his strong chin and noble brow. His flax hair is primped and curled and tied back with a black silk ribbon, he is indeed the epitome of manliness.

Well, to make a long story much shorter, in their eagerness to meet him, there was a bit of a scuffle and I'm ashamed to say that a little hair pulling and the tearing of his clothes occurred.

The saddest part of this story is that he is now a little traumatized and without any clothes -being wrapped in a bit of old linen - until I can mend his frock coat & cravat...as for any other clothing such as his pocket and trousers...I have yet to locate them.

He has only one shoe...(I'm told that one of the ladyes may have hidden it as a remembrance)

He is now safely hidden from their view until he recovers from his first meeting.

The ladyes are now quite red-faced and appalled at their apparent lack of propriety and usual quiet natures and now have gone back to their stitching and quiet reading.

to be continued~~~~~