To My Mother, Leonor Pérez
Hanábana, October 23, 1862
Esteemed Mama,
First of all, I hope you are well, and also the girls, Joaquina, Luisa and Mama Joaquina. Papa received your letter on the 21st, since the mail didn’t come on Saturday the 18th and he got it on Tuesday. He says that the mail couldn’t get across the Sabanilla River, which makes it difficult to get to Nueva Bermeja and here. Papa doesn’t hurt any more from his fall, but he itches from the time he lies down until he gets up, so he can’t sleep, and he’s been this way for three nights.
Now, I’m concentrating on taking care of my horse and getting him fat as a pig. I’m teaching him to walk while I rein him in, so he’ll step elegantly. I ride him every afternoon, and he looks more polished every day. I still have something else with which to entertain myself and pass the time, the purebred rooster which Mr. Lucas de Sotolongo gave me. It is very handsome, and Papa takes very good care of it. Right now, Papa is looking for somebody who can trim its comb and is getting it ready for me so I can fight it this year. He says this rooster is worth more than two ounces.
Both the rivers that go by Mr. Jaime’s farm and the Sabanilla — which the mail must cross — were very high on Saturday (the one near here came close to Mr. Domingo’s fence), but they have gone down quite a lot since then.
That’s about all. Give my love to Mama Joaquina, Joaquina, Luisa and the girls, and give Pilar a kiss for me. Your obedient son, who loves you passionately, sends you his love.