Letters and Papers From Prison Read Online Free PDF Page B

two evangelists; how much I would like to talk them over with you.
    I hear from Ursel 10 that the children are in Friedrichsbrunn. 11 Our idea of a perfect holiday is there.
    I want you to know that I’m grateful to you for everything that you have been and are to my wife, my children and myself. So good-bye.
    Your Hans
    To his parents
    [Tegel] Easter Day, 25 April 1943
    Dear parents,
    At last the tenth day has come round, and I’m allowed to write to you again; I’m so glad to let you know that even here I’m having a happy Easter. Good Friday and Easter free us to think about other things far beyond our own personal fate, about the ultimate meaning of all life, suffering, and events; and we lay hold of a great hope. Since yesterday it has been marvellously quiet in the house. I heard many people wishing each other a happy Easter, and one does not begrudge it anyone who is on duty here - it’s a hard job. In the stillness now I can also hear your Easter greetings, if you’re together with the family today and thinking of me.
    Good Friday was Maria’s birthday. If I didn’t know how bravely she bore the death of her father, her brother and two cousins of whom she was particularly fond, last year, I would be really alarmed about her. Now Easter will comfort her, her large family will be there to support her, and her work in the Red Cross will occupy all her time. Give her my love, tell her that I long for her very much, but that she is not to grieve, but to be as brave as she has always been. She is still so very young - that is the hard thing.
    First of all, I must thank you very much for all the things that you brought me and for father’s and Ursel’s greetings. You can’timagine what it means to be suddenly told: ‘Your mother and sister and brother have just been here, and they’ve left something for you.’ The mere fact that you have been near me, the tangible evidence that you are still thinking and caring about me (which of” course I really know anyway!) is enough to keep me happy for the rest of the day. Thank you very much indeed for everything.
    Things are still all right, and I am well. I’m allowed out of doors for half an hour every day, and now that I can smoke again, I even forget sometimes, for a little while, where I am! I’m being treated well, and I read a good deal - newspapers, novels, and above all the Bible. I can’t concentrate enough yet for serious work, but during Holy Week I at last managed to work solidly through a part of the passion story that has occupied me a great deal for a long time - the high-priestly prayer. I’ve even been able to expound to myself a few chapters of Pauline ethical material; I felt that to be very important. So I really have a great deal to be very thankful for.
    How are things with you? Are you still enjoying the masses of glorious birthday flowers? What are your plans for travelling? I’m rather afraid that now you won’t be going into the Black Forest, good and necessary though that would have been. And on top of everything there are now the preparations for Renate’s wedding. I want to make it clear that it is my express wish that Ursel should not postpone the date by a single day, but should let Renate get married as soon and as happily as possible; don’t let her worry. Anything else would only distress me. Renate knows all the good wishes for her in my thoughts, and how much I share her joy. In recent years we have really learnt how much joy and sorrow can and must fill the human heart at one and the same time. So, the sooner the better. Do give her my love.
    I would also very much like to know how things are with Maria’s grandmother. 12 Please do not conceal it from me if she has died. Maria and I have both hung on her a great deal.
    Now a couple of requests: I would very much like the brown, or better still the black boots with laces. My heels are going. My suit is very much in need of cleaning; I would like to give it to you and to have