By Annie Garrett Stephenson
As one of the 27 grandchildren, I did play under that cottonwood tree many times. All 27 of us had that experience at one time or another. Sometimes there were many of us and at other times only a few at a time. I, Jenk Stephenson, remember those days with very fond memories! Now at my age of 78 the farm house is gone, and even the cottonwood tress is gone, but the memories are still there.
This ole house by the side of the road
Has been home sweet home to me,
My children have run, romped, and played in the shade of the cottonwood
tree.
In this ole house, my husband and me raised our family of eight,
No, it was not easy, but not too bad for we worked for what we had,
We done for our children the best we could, tho it was not enough,
But somehow, someway, God seen us through!! Before things got too tough.
I look back on the years as they came and went,
And though my life is most spent, the happy memories of
The past will linger with me till the last.
But the most precious blessing God gave was my husband
And children, nine,
For to me my children are still precious, sweet and kind,
The ole house by the side of the road is sill home sweet home to me,
And my grandchildren still run, romp and play in the shade of the
cottonwood tree.
PS: -- As one of 26 grandchildren, I can veryify that we all played under that old cottonwood tree. The tree is no longer there, nor is the house there, but the memories still linger on. Now that I am 70 years old, I still have many fond memories of that farm and never fail to drive by there when I'm in the area--Jenk Stephenson.