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Writings of Jessie Stark Tichenor,grand daughter of Miles and Elizabeth (Bundy) Patton
"Grandfather Patten built his home in the middle of his farm of rich black soil. You had to open the gate and drive down his own private lane, where the corn grew so tall that you couldn't be seen until you almost got to the house. No matter, for unexpected company there was no danger of finding an empty larder there. It was a household of peace and plenty."
Grandfather was like one of his own beech trees. Do you know how they grow? Their branches slightly downward, like protecting arms. Grandfather tried to protect all around him, not only his family, but his livestock as well. There were sheds all around his farm, a protection for his sheep in the winter. And there were always pigeons cooing and muttering from the roof."
"Grandfather's hair was smooth and dark (it never turned gray) and he wore it in sort of a long bob. He was the soul of gentleness and dignity. He always called Grandmother "Elizabeth:, not "Lib" as others did. His children all had long names, and that was what he called them. He never recognized a nickname. He loved to take us for walks around the farm and show us all the animals. There was always a gentle horse that we could ride while he walked solemnly beside us. If he was ever impatient, I never saw him so."
"Grandmother loved to have us come. She outdid herself in the kitchen. Never elsewhere have I seen such fluffy, flaky bisquits. Her milkhouse was her pride, and she kept its brick floors scrubbed to the brightest red. The crocks of milk stood in a long trough of water, pumped fresh many times a day from the wooden pump in the center of the room. We loved the coolnesss of this room, and all the rich milk which she ladled from the crocks. But, most of all, we loved Grandmothers songs and stories, with which she was generous."
"Nineteen and eighteen they were when they set up houskeeping here on this very farm, though of course the house and barns and acres had increased meanwhile for they had prospered. Their honeymoon house, though scantily furnished, was a happy place, for they always worked together And, Grandmother's heart wa so light that she was always singing; One day Grandfather said, 'Elizabeth, that was such a pretty song you sane while we were milking; I wish you would sing it for me again." "I can't, Miles" she said. "I was just making it up as i went along."
"When wevisited at Grndfather Patten's, that meant visiting Uncle Billie, Aunt Lizie and Cousin Elma, for their house was nearby, and we dearly loved them all. Uncle Billy was the baby of the family, and Grandmother was might glad when he settled down, as he had woried her with his reckless horeback riding. She even found him riding while walking in his sleep, his saddle perched perilously in an upstairs window."
"No matter how many were in Grandmothers household, or how late we sat up to talk and to sing, there was never any question as to who would be the last one to go to bed. She would. Then was her house her own, and se set it completely to rights and to her liking. Then she wound the clock, sewpt the hearth, put in order the clothes of the careless ones, shoes with their proper mates, and tucked the covers around us. All this must be done before she would call it a day. You might be careless the first time, but the next time you remembered to fold your clothes neatly as Grandmother did, and you would be sure she would notice and praise you for it."
On their tombstone can be found:
"They are waiting for us in the
Glorious Edenland which lies
Beyond the sunset of life.
There is no death, no darkness,
No tears in that bright world
Where the righteous dwell"
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