MD3PAD 238-240

[Toby G Levy]

        Chapter 24 begins on page 238 with the Dixon recalling how his
parents met and how Dixon owes his existence to a pair of shoes.
Dixon's father George finds a pair of wet shoes drying by a fire and
takes them, as is the custom, to be redeemed later for a gift. The shoes
belong to Mary Hunter and a relative introduces her to Dixon. Mary is
actually a kind of relation to Dixon by marriage. Mary's father had
married twice after Mary's birth mother died. After Mary's father died
her step-mother had married George's father. So Dixon wonders if they
should be considered "step-brother and step-sister-in-law." Mary was 18
when her father died and she married George 12 years later.

        Jeremiah Dixon was her second son, the first being George Jr.

        Jeremiah was a happy child, called Jelly-Belly by all.

Toby