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Show Nettie, Page 67 ing effects of music. Once again the church hymns and popular favorites rang out of the Peterson windows to entertain the neighbors. One of Nettie's prized gifts that year was some sheet music ordered especially for her by Brigham. In his halting way he explained how much he enjoyed hearing her play and sing, too. Clarence still played at her bedside once in a while, and she read to him out of the scriptures and her school books. Occasionally a schoolmate would come to visit bringing news of the teachers and gossip about the other children. Alice was now Mama's ally in hemeighborly good deeds, though Alice detested the job and complained about it often. As spring came, Alice was also busy helping Mama prepare the ground for her annual vegetable garden. Occasionally Papa took Nettie down to the post office where she could sit on a chair behind the counter. She got to know most of the people in Lovell who loved her cheerful attitude and unabashed way of talking to them. Col. Cody was a frequent visitor to the post office. "Nettie Peterson," he would boom as he came in the door. "How's my Mormon angel?" Nettie had changed from the little girl to a young lady. The lengthy illness had somehow matured her and childhood was gone. Pain and suffering had taken the childishness out of the round face and pushed her far beyond her twelve chronological years. Col. Cody recognized the maturity in Nettie. It was one of the joys in seeing him that he treated her as an individual and conversed |