The Atlanta constitution., 1902-07-07
PlUnk0ft' SLeff6r

will take place at Tucker, July 3D.
Old people can remember when we had
a popular song in Georgia which went
somewhat thusly:
"Old Dan Tucker. he got drunk,
Fell in the fire and kicked up a chuuAi
A red-hot coal got in his shoe.
And then, oh, my, how ashes flew.
"Ge+ ont tho way old Dan Tucker,
Get our the way old Dan Tucker,
Get out the way old Dan Tucker, :.
Come too late to get your supper.
This old song may not strike the young
as being very classic or very musical.
but there is more in 1t than you think
if you will get some old man TO sing II
for YOU Anyhow. old Dan gained enough
fame through this song to have this Ut
tie place named for him. and there are
people yet living in that neighborhood
who can tell you many things or MIN.
and nothing about him will be very bad.
save that he would get drunk for which
he paid the penalty every time OF having
his wife tell him that he come 100 iats
to get your supper.
1t will sound odd to thousands scat
tered over the world to hear that this
annual celebration of DeKalbs Sunday
than the old tabernacle at Decatur. This
celebration was held at Decatur for
wears upon years and this old tabernacle
became very dear to thousands VINO nave
scattered over the west, but who. dare
saw. have held this memory in their
hearts. and will. down TO the grave.
But no matter about TINS chahge' tho'
sunburnt plow boys and the country
Iaeses will be at TucAer, just as they have
nd
folk will be there with greetings Just as
they have greete,. 1 venture that through
all that uav- not a harsh word VIII Do
sDoken. not a drunken man, not SIN
gle disturbance will Occur-ali TINS IN
credit to our people and in compliment
to the occasion.
There has never been time since I can
remember that there was not some sort
of meetings for the people in the sum
nar after the work was through. but L
rsad IN be ti.aL too many OF these occa-
s;ons we're got up for 'men only ana 50
,,-as lost the sweet influence OF women
and children TO temper the behavior oI
the crowds. In the olden times hors9
racing. chicken fighting. shooting TOT
bseves or for turkeys and other rO06A
tbinqs with whisky always, which made
the occasions in very unfaVoraole con-
+rost :, this Sunday school celebration
wish that all the world could Wit
noes the getting ready. the gathering IN
ana then the glorious services at one o
-, ,,alohratfons Every little church
and averv big church IS represented. 10
village people turn out in JoyiUl gee,
while the lOneliest cabin in the WliaeSs
v-ood is stirred to action ana mace me-
-, Every road leading TO Tucker wiz
he strewn with vehicles Loaded win
banDv children. waving banners. slou-ii'S
so,,ers a pleasing and healthy Juoliee'
o. tho mornings of these days. by pre-
,rare,ernent. the people Of each settle
ment begin to gather at their reslec'!Fs
churches. and there IS a way proVldeu log
all TO attend the celebration NOT q emu.
,,or n woman. nor a man Is oYerl0okec
IN this arrangement. and nothing Is o'i's
70 crarnp the most fastidious In accef'n=
the courtesies. 1t is sight as pIeasiis
a. :. &c worthy 10 see these children
Gathering into some OF these ru1a.
churches. They go in couples, in fours anC
Ir aroups of dozen. some along the
din, roads of the woods, some along
raths through the fields, while some DART
auf IRON, among the bushes. I'll yoI
hardly know from whence they come
but all are flushed with the joys of ante
ipation and sprinkled with the dew OF me
morning TO make a picture mt Ior Jhs
joys of a year.
When the wagons are loaded and II Is
made certain that all are present ol
accounted for" the whips are popped and
the shouting begins. and all the way me
hills resound till echo reaches echo from
road to road and all the country Is VII
with merriment. Arriving at the place
wherever il may be, old friends oi the
year before are shaking hands. swarIz
of young people are passing u and if'.
some singing. some talking as fast =
their tongues can wag, while al aF=
appy-happy. and show II 10 t-e
world. In all these crowds there VIII as
no remOrse on the morrow, not q sore
head nor a black eye from the nsAL
nor suits in court-surely this carries is
own comment and should stimulate al
the world to 20 and do as the good people
of DeKalb have done for years and wiA
keep on doing.
As old as l am / like very much -
attend these celebrations. and I shall be
at Tucker on the S0th day of July. Prov
dence permitting. for already Green HoN-
kins has promised me that his class VIII
sing "Old Hundred" just as it used to
be sung, and Jim Livesey has shown me
a great big basket that he says VIII ea
full and that I am welcome. and Jim
Rodgers says he Will drive by in his
buggy and get me and you may count
that I'll be there.
Brown SAYS that I would 90 any where
to get fried chicken and custards, bat
this is not true. I like TO go and watch
the crowds. a glance Of the eye, blush
on the cheek. tells me a story at these
gatherings as pretty as was ever wrote
by pen. and they tell q tale on the
young boys and girls that you would new
er learn from their tongues and that
they fully believe no one viii ever know
but themselves. till that sweet day when
the two shall be one And the tranquil
rest Of some good old mother. who sits
in the shadow with her bonnet pulled
down has been as sweet a poem as L
ever read. See her as she watches the
crowd and you Will know that she IS
travelling backward. oh. backward with
time in its flight" If you Will watch you
Will see a tear triclle down face that
was wreathed in smiles but moment
befOre-some sweet touch OF nature has
reminded that some dear one is not there
not there.
So il is. y song sweeter than the rest
may touch a tender chord. a prayer
more fervent than the rest may stir a
thought. Even some cute action of A
tender little scholar may call up the most
hallowed memories of a mothers heartt
but there is such sweetness in ii all that
grief itself is mellowed into loveliness
Prospective home hunters could do no
better than 10 attend this next celebra-
ton at Tucker. There you may see our
10 T-a.1r~