Page:The Homes of the New World- Vol. III.djvu/195

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April 20th.—Your birthday! Blessings on the day which gave me my dear friend! I cannot to-day present you with flowers, but I can sit down in thought with you, and tell you the history of the day, which was to me parti-coloured, but amusing, and which will perhaps amuse you more than a bouquet.

Two American gentlemen, of the chivalric species, whom I hope our Lord will bless with man's best reward—good and beautiful wives—had taken charge of me and my effects when I came by railway from Matanzas to Havannah, and conducted me and mine, safe and sound, to Havannah House. One of them, who has resided much in