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A DANISH COURTSHIP Eleanor P. Madsen Ephraim, Utah FIRST PLACE SHORT STORY "Christiana, I received this letter from a friend in America Today. Would you like to answer it for me?" missionary, Hans Brown, caught the attractive Christiana Nielsen off guard. She hesitated a moment before answering, then she asked, "What is it about? Who is it from?" "If s from Christian, a good friend of mine who lives in Utah. You can read it and then see if you want to answer it. " Hans handed the letter to Christiana as he said., plexed and then sat down by the small oak table with the letter in front of her. She read it over and over again, the full meaning finally taking hold in her mind. Her thoughts centered on two sentences: " You know the worth of Danish girls. Can you find me one?" How could of going to America. "How could she stand to leave her mother?" The questions raced on and Christiana had lived most of her life in Odense, Denmark. She was only twelve when she and her mother had left Hundstrup and come to Odense searching for work. Christiana left behind only sad memories of her birthplace: the loss of her father when she was only three years old; her only brother and a stepfather cemetery. |