Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-10-06

melody died down to a hum when the
voices of the women drowned those
of the men.
"Grandma' Veal enjoyed it all.
When they sang songs of her child
hood she joined in, as you could tell
by watching her lips, but her voice
was lost in the volume of sound.
Her Wedding Dress
The singing was followed by the
event of the day-the birthday din
ner, spread on tables as long as two
city blocks. If the tables did. not
sroan under the weight of the prod
ucts of the surrounding farms, it
was because the oak and pine boards
lacked voices, but they shivered as
they bent to their task.
At the head of the table Mrs. Veal
presided, still queenly. Before her
was the mountainous cake, which
had brought forth q delighted hand
clap when she saw it, covered with
candles Of every color in the spec
trum. Every one had to count
them. and. of course, no two count
ed alike, but there were 10l just
the same.
While the visitors were eating it
WAS dnuOllllCtD lllClI ever JONtS = BlC-
ture would be taken. and again,
grandma looked delighted. and
whispered for some one to get her
wedding dress. 1t came, a long
gown of snowy whiteness, with a
tight bodice and flowing skirt, that
lacked only the hoops to make it
part Of the trousseau of bride Of
184O Around the neck was a quaint
piece of lace.
"Grandma" made the dress with
her own hands, and she laughed and
cried as she recalled the days when
she, a little maid of sixteen, had
sewed and pricked her fingers, and
had them healed by a kiss from her
lover
She slipped it on. A light came
into her eyes. Somehow, ineXplic-
ably, she was q bride again, rosy
/ and shy. Her children, themselves
old and gray looked at her strange
ly, and begged her to take it off. 1t
! made her too pale, they said. With
a sigh. she complied, and again be-
| came Grandma" Veal.
Six Generations
A little bow was there, Clarence
! Julian Deeton, whose great-Great-
! grandmother on each side was pres
ent. The little fellow stood between
| them and had his picture taken,
I something sparkling new between
! two old old ladies. The other great
| great grandmother, Mrs Sallie Lam
rum, was only eighty-one years old
She sees five generations springin2
up around her. Mrs. Veal sees six
Mrs. Veal has lived so long BE
cause the Lord willed it, she says
| She has been a member Of tf%
| church since she was a little girl
and she is still one of the staunch
! members of the Macedonia COngre
! Gational church. not far from her
! home.
You know she said, in hel
clear voice that sounded Just trifle
| tired after her party. i've never
told a lie since l was seven years
Old
1t was so natural to ask, "And
| did YOU tell one them"
Il might have" she answered
gravely, but l can't remember
and l won say positively"
That was typical of Mrs. Veal
| She is one of the bestowed am
best known women in Gwinnett
county.
Another important figure at The
party was Mr.. Green Braselton
who was born on Mrs. Neal's fit
tieth birthday. Every year he arc
Mrs Veal celebrate jointly.
What tremendous events have
occurred since Mrs. Veal was bOIr
! in Hart county, Georgia. on Sep
TENDER %, 1922. When she was {
girl, her family would 81 to Au
! Gusta to trade-piling in the ole
covered wagons and taking almos
all their household goods. For tn
trip to the nearest city was a long
long journey of weeks, the road:
were uncertain, and Indians STU
rOamed and sometimes were hostile
There were no railroads then, am
no telegraphs. The Monroe doctrin,
was unuttered. America was stil
an experiment in democracy. Nov
Mrs. Veal rides around in Ford
and listens to far-Off cities through
her radiophones.
AS the sun began TO set and TIL
guests to depart, someone suggested
that Mrs. Veal was tired.
Tired" she echoed scOrnfully
look here" And before anyon
could move. she was on her feet an
jumping up and down like a chill
skipping rope.
Come again next year she erie
J after the departing guests.