Field post letters from hans koch, vienna, world war ii, eastern front, 1922-1945 previous letter (1935-08-02) letter date (1935-08-16) next letter (1935-08-30) [the main thing is fresh air, enough farm food] and plenty of milk. We can give hans plenty of the latter. He doesn't eat nearly as much as last year, but it's probably because we cook everything with a lot of fat. It would be better if the boy were with us all the time, that is, if he could sleep in the house; he would get to know the family better. But there's no other way! and the evenings are the best for us: now and then a "heimart" comes over [note: heimgarten - in upper germany a cozy gathering, chat, visit, entertainment; the verb heimgarten: to pay a visit. In various alpine regions, the name heimgarten is given to that house in the village where people come together in the evening to do small, practical jobs and socialize, where wise people gather for stimulating conversation. ] (that is an acquaintance visiting) and we sit together and talk about politics and the day's topics, because my dear father often plays the zither, i sing along, or thom accompanies on the violin. During the day there is no time for the real meaning of family life, the farmer only does that in the evening. - hans always has to go to bed just after 8 o'clock because that is what his housekeepers do. So you see how your child lives during the holiday weeks. I don't know whether the boy is feeling well. In any case [if so???] he can come back if he wants. Every evening at 7:30 p. M. Hansi goes to pray the rosary in the village church. My father has been there since the old sexton died this year [spelling error in kurrent: sexton is written with a round "s" because the "m" is always written with a round "s"], and he took his place and became sexton. Hansi then goes [always with his father to ring the first bell and light the candles. ]. Date: 16 August 1935.
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