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Show Nettie, Page 56 the wood and each ivory key, hardly believing that it was really hers. Sis. Jolley, the bishop's wife, appeared with some music for Nettie and somehow Nettie taught herself to play. There were a couple of delightful summers when Nettie's music floated out of the Peterson windows and drew out the neighbors to listen to the sweet sounds. But in the fall of 1904 when Nettie was eleven, her music gave way for a while to more pressing matters. "Jeannette, take these things out to the wagon," Mama called a couple of times a week. And she handed Nettie a basket filled with butter and bread and vegetables. Mama drove the wagon near the home of a neighbor who was ill andhanded the basket down to Nettie who ran to the house and laid the basket at the door. A quick knock, and Nettie ran back to the wagon which by this time had been driven around a corner and out of sight. Mama did all she could for her neighbors as anonymously as possible as she never cared much for being thanked for what she felt was her Christian duty and responsibility. But her neighborly forays were interrupted when her own Robert fell ill. When her brother was bedridden, Nettie spent as much time as possible at his bedside wetting cloths and putting them on his feverish head. Mama's worry was evident and Nettie felt sorry for her as she watched her mother nurse Robert and spoon feed him vegetable broth. Robert was slow in responding and when Mama found Nettie curled up on her cot shaking and shivering, he eyes glazed with fever, Mama knew she had two sick children on her hands. |