The Marrow of Tradition

According to Mammy Jane, six-month-old Dodie is “the largest finest, smartest, and altogether most remarkable baby that had ever lived in Wellington” (26). However, she must leave her post as his nurse because of rheumatism. She tries to bully and admonish the new nurse to care for the baby just as she did. The new nurse, having no emotional attachment to her employers, is annoyed by Mammy Jane’s “slaving over the white folks” and ignores her completely (27), addressing only Olivia. The major and Olivia praise Mammy Jane for her devotion, assuring her that if “all the colored people were like [her] and Jerry […] there would never be any trouble” (28). Mammy Jane thanks the major and then notices that Dodie is struggling to breathe. He has swallowed the end of the rattle that Mrs. Ochiltree gave him. Dr. Price attends him and finds he must call for a specialist from Philadelphia, Dr. Burns. Mammy Jane’s dark suspicions resurface: She digs up her charm, makes the sign of the cross over it, and reburies it.

On his train from Philadelphia to Wellington, Dr. Burns runs into his protégé, Dr. Miller. Dr. Miller has studied in Europe and published articles on his surgeries; he is widely respected in the field.