- Second letter Hans wrote to his family while imprisoned at Oettenbach.
- I, Hans Landis, wish friendly greetings to my entire household, above all I am also letting you know that I am alive and healthy, and completely consoled by God's grace, may God grant it truly, amen.
- I am letting you know by this letter the timing of the household tasks, so take good care of the cattle and keep the hay very clean, and if you put the threshed straw in the pit to use for fodder it would be bad beforehand to stir manure beneath the reed- straw; it is not good to lay it first on the ground when you cut the reeds by hand, it is much better to use it in the summer, and also better, if you fodder the stray in the pit, to (let the cattle) eat half of it. It would be good enough to use the rear [piece of land?] for this half portion, and this reed-straw, as I have instructed; but if you place the cattle there beforehand for grazing it will stir up the dirt. I know that the household cannot take on too much. I must entrust myself and you to the will of the loving God, in His protection and shelter; pray to God for us so that we may also be of a mind to help one another since we ourselves are very imperfect with each other.
- I do not know whether or not I will be coming to you, I entrust myself to the commands of the loving God, in His shelter and protection, truly, amen.
- Concerning my beloved children, it is my heartfelt desire for you that you behave yourselves very quietly, that you now by yourselves pray to God truly, and be obedient to your mother. It is a great obligation and also a great reward for those who are obedient to their father and mother. I would like you to come together again for eternal life, if we diligently live and abide by His will. For this, my children, be very desirous and have much love for each other, I ask you truly to do this with your entire will. If you do so, it would bring you a great treasure after this time in eternal life.
- Further, my Elsy, I am letting you know that you should take very good care, be nurturing, and if they do not follow (Obey) then (you) the mother (will) need to be stern, because they are young; and concerning this, my dear Elsy, I exhort you, if you have milk, give it to Caspar's child with good will. It is a good charity, and he should then also be of assistance to you I think.
- There is nothing else that I need to encharge you with, other than to be mindful of the love He shows towards this earthly realm, I resign myself to what the Lord has sent me.
- It would please me now very much if you would all love each other equally, and take good care of the house and be very, very diligent with the chores as much as you are able, as I would do if I were there. Nothing else should be heeded but God's commands (and trust) in His protection and shelter, Who is truly praised by all of us, pray to God for us that we do this, and also for yourselves, through Jesus Christ, amen, amen.
- I would like very much, my dear Elsy-you asked about to whom I loaned the Doms Büchli, which I received from Hans Uli Hürlimann; I would like you to send a copy to me as soon as you can; ask around(to see)if there is another (copy), I do not know to whom I gave it, the innkeeper probably knows who has it; and if you can get one to me send it so that I can write to pass the time. It will soon become warm again outside and the days long; I would greatly prefer to be doing (things) outside for a long time, rather than this useless sitting.
Copied from the Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage; July 1995. For personal use only. Not to be used for monitary gain without written or expressed permission from the Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage.
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- I, Hans Landis, wish friendly greetings to my entire household, above all I am also letting you know that I am alive and healthy, and completely consoled by God's grace, may God grant it truly, amen.