Getting mail question

I have an iMac running OS 10.6.8. From the time I got it, in Mail whenever I clicked on "Get Mail" a spinning wheel would show up against the Inbox. This would show me that the computer was searching for any new mail that needed to be downloaded. I must have unknowingly hit some key, but now the spinning wheel no longer shows. I still get mail, but no spinning wheel. Does anyone have any ideas as to what I might have done, and how to get it back?
Thanks,
Kevin

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