During the winter of 1846--after we had removed from your great-grandmamma's, and were again enjoying a home of our own--my health gave way, to an alarming extent. Although able to go about the house, it was evident (declared so by my physicians) that I was in a decline. When I grew no better from the concentrated wisdom of three of the Faculty, my husband determined to try the effect of a change of air and scene, first having consulted the doctors as to the expediency of it, and having been assured by them that, if it did me no good, it could do me no harm. With his accustomed dispatch he hastened to the river, secured our passage on a boat, which was to leave in three days, and at dinner asked me if I would not like to take a trip to Havana? The question startled me, for there was more business done in March and April than in any other two months of the whole year, and I could not see the practicability--indeed, it had previously seemed almost impossible for him to leave home at that time. But his answer to my exclamations of surprise--"Business is of no importance compared to health," and the question, "Can you be ready by day after tomorrow?" accompanied by the assurance that our state-rooms were already engaged --put a stop to further discussion, and set my sister earnestly to work to get me ready. "Lizzie must leave school," ("papa" said), "for she, too, may go along to help take care of mamma"--and never was a mamma better taken care of, with two such nurses as she had.