Ladies' Enterprise

Original.

For the Ladies' Enterprise.

MAGGIE LISLE'S LAST VISIT TO HER FRIEND MATTIE'S.
BY H. MARIA FELT.

"I am tired of living such an idle monotonous life mother," said Maggie Lisle one afternoon in the early part of September, by way of addressing that inestimable parent,
"and do you know what I've resolved upon doing?"

"What my dear?"

"Take a trip up to Stainbrook and give Mattie Sedgewick a call."

"Perhaps she is not at home, or if so, it may not be convenient for her to receive company," said Mrs. Lisle.

"O, Mattie couldn't think of calling me company, for I am one of her own family, her adopted sister you know, but she might be away to her father's or somewhere, so I shall write, first, and see how things are."

"Very well, Maggie, I have no objection," and Mrs. Lisle very industriously continued her knitting, while her daughter went in search of her portfolio and ink to indite the aforementioned epistle. Perhaps somebody may have a curiosity to see what sort of a letter writer Miss Maggie Lisle might be; and if so, they may read the following:-

My Dear Mrs. Mattie: I am tired to death of everything! I can't sweep carpets, or wash dishes, or make brown bread (I don't have very good luck with any other) or hem sheets, or run gown-skirts, or read--or write letters -in fact I can't do anything without feeling dreadfully weary of it. I have felt so all summer; but hoped when the weather became cooler, I should not be so miserably fretful and shrewish. I noticed Mattie, I haven't looked at a pan of milk for these three weeks, but that it was sure to sour, and as for the vinegar cruet, there has been no need of any, for the same length of time.
Now don't be frightened, my dear, when I say I am coming to see you-that is provided you, nor any one else, have no objections to the same. You see, dear, I want some medicine-now the Doctor needn't wink, it isn't his-not powders or syrups, or cod liver oil, or any such thing as that but heart medicine -that is what I want -something of change to take away this terrible ache, aching, which clogs my spirits, and dries up my very life blood, so that it will only beat to the time of funereal foot-steps.
I know it is dreadfully foolish, but I am certain the sight of your good sunshiny face again, and the tones of your dear cheerful voice, will carry off all the dark dismal clouds which have encompassed me so long, and make me what I used to be when we first knew each other-a lively loving girl again.
Now Mattie, if after what I have written, you wish me to come, why write come, and if not, just say so.

Thine,
MAGIE.

"Sister Maggie, a letter for you," said Nellie Lisle two days after the above had been posted, "and I guess it's from Mattie Sedgewick, by the mark."

"I guess so too Nellie; how quick she has answered mine though," said Maggie breaking the seal, and reading the following-"My husband gave me Maggie's letter to-night, and I hasten to write to her, 'Come,' and not only that, but come quickly. The 'heart medicine' is waiting for trial-if it fails (William says it won't fail,) it has less virtue than I hope it possesses
Cousin Fred Lyman-the one I have so often told you of, has been here. He has some queer notions, but is one of the dearest cousins-kind-hearted, intellectual and immensely rich. What a pity you couldn't have seen him. I shall expect you next week, and don't disappoint

Your Mattie.

"The same dear Mattie as before she was married; how nice it will seem to be together once more," said Maggie's heart, as the next Monday morning her fingers were busily folding dresses and then packing them into her travelling trunk.

"This blue barege, Maggie, shall you want this ?"

"The barege, O yes Nellie, I forgot that, one, two, three, four, that will do. Don't crumple those sleeves there that box of collars I almost forgot. There, the last article is stowed away-hand me the keys, Nellie- then label this, dear, while I get my cape and bonnet."

"Good bye mother, good bye Nellie, darling, I shall come back in a week or two," were Maggie's last words as she climbed into the coach which was to convey her to the depot, where she would take the train of cars, going to her friend's home, which was some hundred miles from her own.

"Will Mattie be thinking of my coming to-night I wonder? I am so glad 'cousin Fred' isn't there though, for what do I care about fifty cousins, when I am to have such a nice, cosy time with dear Mat? And then the doctor and he would be sure to tease us -just as men always do laugh-about girl's or women's 'friendships.' Yes I am very glad he isn't there, but what need of repeating it all the time to myself." O, little Maggie Lisle, what need, sure enough, when you know he isn't there. If you knew he really was, now, why that would be a very different thing.
Ah! Maggie, I am afraid your heart isn't the wisest little heart in the world, else it would never keep thinking of the last part of thy friend's letter, when the first was of so much more importance.
That white cottage, close to the church with the tall steeple, with two shady maples in front, and with the black sign, having in large letters upon it-"W. S. SEDGEWICK- PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON," nailed up by the door, that is Mattie Sedgewick's home; and a pleasant, loving home it is for the two generous hearts who dwelt there. Maggie Lisle well knew, because she had been there, since the two hearts pledging themselves together had given it that endearing title, twice before.
And there was Mattie herself standing out to the gate where the coach, with its four horses, stood tight in front, earnest to get hold of Maggie's hand, to lead her into the house and there, in the front parlor, to bend her little cottage bonnet into six angles, and make a great dent in the crown, because she must and would without waiting any longer half smother her with kisses:

"I knew you would come to-night, Maggie, Will said no, but I knew better. O won't we have a glorious time? Will has gone now to see some patients, and you shall hide when he comes back behind the sofa. But how I am rattling on, Mag. I'm so glad to see you-you shall have some supper in two minutes, we haven't been to tea yet."
So Mattie Sedgewick's tongue for the next half hour went on adding up evidence after evidence to prove that time old proverb-and a foolish proverb it is too I am sure-"a woman's tongue is never still" -was founded upon truth, until in fact, from very weariness it came to a pause.

"O Mattie the heart medicine is already taking effect," said Maggie as they recovered from a merry peal of laughter in which they both had joined with the utmost good will. "I am so glad you and the doctor are all alone--that there are no patients here, and-and that your cousin Fred, as you call him, is really gone."

"Are you really ?" inquired Mattie, as her brown eyes twinkled, like two stars, in roguish mirth.

"Yes," said Maggie, warming up. "I don't like old bachelors one bit, they are always crusty; don't you think so ?"

"Cousin Fred isn't but thirty, and he is very tolerable, yes, I may say really entertaining;" she added with a sly glance at the door leading to the sitting-room, which was half open. "Besides, he is handsome and rich, that is worth something you know. Indeed Maggie I should like to have you see him."

"Not I Mattie. If he is such a perfect hyperion why has he never married?" inquired Maggie carelessly.

"Never found any one good enough, I believe. He is a particular body-is my cousin Fred. Miss Maggie Lisle," said Mattie suddenly rising and pulling the last named lady little towards the door, where stood a tall man with laughing black eyes, and-well, of course, a black moustache--bowing very politely and muttering something about "happy," and "Miss Lisle's acquaintance" and a good deal more of the same sort of thing which Maggie took not the least notice of, because she was so astonished she had no strength to do anything but open her large eyes to their widest extent, and give a prolonged stare.

"You don't hear, Maggie Lisle, this is my cousin, Frederick Lyman, Esq., of New York -the gentleman we were talking about just now, you know," said Mattie as she tried to look serious while she repeated the introduction.
Cousin Fred nodded again, and would perhaps have shaken hands if both of Maggie's hadn't been clasped so close together; but Maggie didn't nod neither did she stare now, but burst out into such a delicious peal of laughter, that cousin Fred became--the first time for nine years-a little, just a little disconcerted, from the belief that he must be making an exceedingly awkward appearance.

"How long is that young lady going to stay here, cousin Mattie?" inquired Fred, that night, after Mattie had retired to her room.

"O a month or two-just as long as I can keep her-she's a dear girl, cousin Fred."

"I dare say; I believe I shall be obliged to go home next week Mattie," said Fred.

"Shall you ?" said she glancing archly towards her husband who stood near. "Perhaps you don't like Maggie very well; she isn't very pretty certainly."

"Ahem, ahem," coughed cousin Fred.

"Bronchitis husband; a little of that syrup would be good for Fred," laughed Mattie as she ran up to see if Maggie was asleep yet, and if she wasn't to tell her they should have the nice quiet time she had wished for, after the next week.
Maggie had been with her friend about three weeks, when one fine, clear morning, the doctor standing on the door-step, put his head back through the open door, calling out at the same time-

"If you want to go to ride this morning, girls, get ready in less than two minutes, else I shall not wait for you."

"But we can't both go, can we?" asked Mattie.

"Fred will take one in his carriage," he replied.

"Oh! oh ! which one, Will?" said Mattie teasingly.

"You, you little mouseling, of course; I don't want you."

"Yes I remember what you said two years ago about this time. O he's a sinner, Maggie," shaking her finger at his good humored phiz, just visible where she stood, "if ever there was one; fib, fibbing as he does. Don't want me forsooth! a likely story when he said last night-only last night remember-he liked me twice as well as Pegasus, and" turning to him, "you wouldn't take the pony's weight in gold for him, you know you wouldn't Will."
Will laughed, called her a "crazy thing," and sent off for the carriage which was harnessed to the aforesaid pony; meanwhile Mattie tied her bonnet strings and Maggie sat quietly perched up in the easy chair.

"Will you have your veil or parasol, little Maggie?" inquired Mattie presently as she stood by the closet door with the former's bonnet resting on one hand and her cape on the other."

"Not either, Mattie, dear, for I don't think I will go this morning; I want to read this through'-holding up a book belonging to Mr. Lyman-"and if I don't take the time when you are away, I am sure I never shall do it we have so many things to talk about, you know."

"Mattie, Mattie, are you ready?" called the doctor's pleasant voice at the front door.

"But here is Maggie, Will, I can't leave her alone, and she has taken a sudden fancy not to go."

"Ah! but if you stay, Mattie, I wont speak a word, I'll go off up stairs and be just the least sociable possible, and then to-morrow I'll go right home-"

"You are not talking of going home yet, I hope, Miss Lisle," said cousin Fred with an earnest look who had just then entered the room and caught the last part of her sentence.

"Yes, cousin, do persuade her differently, if possible," said Mattie archly, as she skipped off to join her husband.

"Now, Will, you knew Fred wasn't going, all the time you pretended so." said she to the latter as they rode along at a brisk pace over the well travelled road. "Didn't you, Will ?"
No answer.

"Well about women making matches, I don't believe there's an old lady in town who would have done that, Will, not one. But this isn't the first time you've taken such affairs in hand, by no means; never telling me a word about it, just as though you couldn't trust me." and Mattie's red lips pouted most beautifully. Will thought so at least, and smiled as he congratulated himself upon having made one "good match" in his life, albeit the first and last one he had ever tried to make

"I declare Fred, you couldn't have gone far to be back before us, when we started so long first, too," said Mattie very innocently as she bounded into the room an hour or so after leaving it.
Maggie's face might have compared very well with the crimson curtain behind her, as for richness of color, but she was too busy with her book to look up towards her friend.
Cousin Fred said as honestly as he could that they hadn't been a great way, on account of a headache which riding always increased.

"That headache keeps you in the house a great deal, cousin, to say nothing of your suffering so much, with, such a martyr like patience. Your head doesn't ache too, does it Maggie, dear ?"

"No," Maggie said very softly.

"Because I thought your face looked flushed a little," said she wickedly.
Perhaps cousin Fred thought so too, for he seemed to observe her very closely, as he sat by the other side of the table just opposite; and perhaps Maggie knew he thought so too, for just then she ran out after Mattie without once looking back to see the handsome black eyes which certainly followed her with a great deal of satisfaction, if one might judge by their expression.

"But I really cannot stay any longer Mattie, for I promised mother I would be back in a fortnight at least, and here I've been gone a whole month; besides she will be alarmed about me, lest I am ill I am afraid."

"O write to her Maggie, just write, that will explain, for I cannot positively let you go for another month; Will says I mustn't," looking up to her husband, "and you know I promised to obey him when-when I agreed to be his housekeeper."
The doctor laughed, and so did cousin Fred and Maggie, and the first named said Mattie was right, and that she, little Maggie, must not go home for four weeks to come at least.
Whether cousin Fred spoke more than by his eyes, deponent saith not, but it was not more than a day after the above little discussion before Mrs Lisle-Maggie's mother received the following letter. "Dearest mother; I am sure you have been expecting me back home for these two weeks past, but Mattie and her kind husband said nay, to every word of mine in regard to returning so soon, indeed mother I have promised-thinking you would have no objection--to stay three or four weeks longer. We have such delightful times, Mattie and I, reading walking, and working together. I never enjoyed myself better, when we have been with each other. She has been taking lessons in a new style of painting, and I am learning of her It don't take long to complete a picture- they are executed with colored crayons-and I shall have at least one beautiful one to bring home with me. It will be nice to hang in the parlor right opposite that large pencil drawing of mine, will it not ?
My love to Nellie dear, and do not feel anxious or worry in the least about your Maggie.

P. S. I almost forgot to mention that the cousin, Mattie wrote about, was here when I came although she didn't tell me but that he had gone you know-and will perhaps return to New York at the same time I return home, so I shall not have any trouble about the right trains, or losing my baggage, or any of those things which are so unpleasant for a lady travelling alone to encounter; I think he will call perhaps too, because being Mattie's cousin, you will of course like to thank him for his trouble in taking care of me. By the way Hetty won't need come to the depot.
Good by once more, mother. MAGGIE.

Thanksgiving, that dear old honored day of joy and reunion to so many happy families had come once more to gladden so many hearts throughout the Union. Parents, and grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins, children and children's children, were assembled in grateful thankfulness by many a New England fireside, while the song and hymn of gratitude and praise trembled on more than one childish lip of extreme youth and old age.
There are but few homes-thank God- so lowly-and fewer still so stately but that the very name of the above mentioned day does not lift up some heart in grateful prayer to him who has so kindly watched over his children since its last coming.
Maggie Lisle's home was not an exception. The reader may think it strange that "Cousin Fred" was there rather than at his own father's fireside, that Maggie and "Will" were there too, and above all that the two ladies above mentioned should array themselves in white muslin, when the pale moon shone upon paler snow fields around their dwelling, but when they hear what the old minister says to Fred about taking care of this woman forever -or something like that, (never having been married myself I can't be precisely exact, you know) and then to Maggie about sewing on his--Fred's--shirt buttons, darning his stockings and picking up' whatever he chose to leave here and there out of place through life, why I don't suppose they will think it so very strange after all.
I have only to add dear reader that M. LL Lisle found the genuine heart medicine at her friend Mattie's, and that the next time she visits her, it will probably be in company with "cousin Fred " who with great deal of pride (justifiable of course) sent off dozen enameled cards, the next day after thanksgiving, to the same number of old bachelor friends, bearing upon their polished face the united names of Mr. and Mrs. Frederic Lyman, while in the corner any one could see how lonesome "Maggie Lisle" would have looked if it had always to have stood thus alone.

Written for the Ladies' Enterprise.