Hey Jeza,
"the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" It's an idiom, it means, the kid is a chip off the old block. .. kinda like the saying "Life Father, Like Son".
I was saying that the cruelty of Mrs. Tickle was passed on to her daughter Mrs. Patton who was a product of a nasty mother. Oh geez.. I just realized my Dragon Naturally Speaking.. deleted the sentence about Mrs Patton and Mrs. Tickle being related! GAHH!! Sorry about that.. no wonder you are confused!
Not bitter.. just telling a story. =D