Yellow Crocus (Freedman/Johnson, #1)

by Laila Ibrahim

Mrs. Ann said, “You know many women are feeding their own children now. The Ford family does not use a wet nurse.” “I do not care if it is the fashion. It is unseemly for a woman of your stature to feed a child. Your heartbreak would only be greater should they die. I know from experience, it is best not to love your children too deeply, as it only causes pain.” Mattie figured Grandmother Wainwright thought that because she had lost two children. Miss Rose fell from a fever when she was young long before Mattie was born. Folks said that Grandmother Wainwright changed after that. She got selfish and angry, and never came back. Mourning did that to some folks. When Mr. Alistair died just three years ago, she got even worse. He was the massa after the old man died, but not for so long. He broke his neck falling from a horse. Mattie could feel the anger and the sorrow from the big house all the way out in the quarters. Mr. Wainwright moved back from Richmond to be the new massa. It didn’t make much difference to the folks in the quarters who was the massa. But it mattered to Grandmother Wainwright. “Elizabeth is to be weaned to goat’s milk,” Grandmother Wainwright said. “We do not want her to become attached. It serves no one. As soon as my grandson is born, she can start with him.” Mrs. Ann nodded. Mattie’s heart stopped. Wean this baby girl? Now that she cared for her and was adjusted to her new life, she was going to be forced to tear herself away again.

Wet nurse/weaning Support for explaining the role of the Nurse in RJ