Page:The Homes of the New World- Vol. III.djvu/106

Rh moonlight here, that I prefer spending my evenings on La Plaza de Armas. Nature here is to me No. 1. People and their fine shows No. 2; I shall, however, go to-morrow to a large soirée at the house of the English consul, and see there the Spanish beauties. And then farewell to Havanna for a time.

I have received two invitations which have greatly pleased me. The one to Matanzas to the house of an American merchant there. The other to a plantation, at a few miles distance, from a Mrs. de C., whose friendly letter was a real refreshment to me; for there I shall be able to get out into the country, and to become acquainted with palms, and coffee-shrubs, and sugar-cane, and other tropical growths. I am greatly delighted. I wished to leave Havanna, where the oppressive heat and the unusual mode of living have caused me to suffer from an intolerable headache, which I have now had for three days, and which I cannot get rid of, although I am as much in the air as possible. To-morrow I shall go by railway to Matanzas, which is not quite a day's journey.

Before I close my letter, I must tell you the arrangement which the Swedish consul here, Mr. N., and Mr. S., wish to make for me. Mr. N. has a small country-house which he does not occupy, in the beautiful garden region close by the S's. This he wishes to furnish for me, and there I am to live in rural peace and freedom, attended by a respectable duenna, and to take my meals with the S's, who also invite me to take up my quarters with them, as soon as their guest-chamber, which is now occupied, shall be at liberty. Is not this charming? I shall not probably avail myself of this proffered kindness, but I am grateful with all my heart for such hospitality. The good F.'s are, however, at the bottom of it all. God bless them!

You have now frost and snow, and cold, cold air, cold all