Frame but No Picture: The Story of a Boy Left in Denmark

Judy A. Anderson, Bien, December 3, 1998
"A Frame But No Picture" is a completely different small book, and really quite an eye-opener. I was unaware, and so were the Danes I have asked about this, that when a large family immigrated to the United States the youngest child was sometimes left behind to be raised either by relatives or other members of the community. The first pages tell the story of this one particular family, and how their immigration came about and what happened to Little Adolph. The story is told through a series of letters with the Danish text on one page and the English translation facing it.

Maxine Mitchell, Fontenelle, Nebraska. Newsletter of the Danish American Heritage Society, Summer, 1998, page 8.
"Adolf's story is both memorable and enduring. If only there were a picture of him to fit the frame. There is actually a thirst for more detail from Anders Hansen, Adolf's foster father. How gratifying it would be if he had drawn out in some detail in his letters the small events, the telling gestures that made up the daily life of the little boy. If only he had gone into more specifics through the years, as he finally did in his letter of March 341, 1894 to Peder and Dorthe, Adolf's parents, telling of the little boy's death. On the other hand, the very terseness of the letters points up the poignancy of the relationship between Adolf's family in Denmark and his family in America. This is a sad tale because there is empathy for both families"

Book Description
The letters contained in A Frame But No Picture, spanning the years of 1886 through 1894, are a compelling account of a family. They are a testament to the fortitude and faith of not only the immigrants themselves but also to those who stayed in Denmark. Running as a leitmotif throughout is the story of Mads Adolf, an endearing little fellow, who was left behind in Denmark when his parents emigrated to America. Adolf's story is both memorable and enduring. If only there were a picture of him to fit the frame.

Language Notes
Text: English, Danish

Excerpted from A Frame But No Picture: The Story of a Boy Left in Denmark by John W. Nielsen. Copyright © 1998. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved
Radsted, May 31, 1886 Dear Friends We will now write to you and let you know that we received your letter on May 20. We can tell you that your little boy was in church Friday, May 21. The pastor would not let him come to church on a Sunday. Rasmus Hansen's wife from Falster carried him to the christening. Jens Madsen and wife from Ragelunde and the smith from Frejlev stood sponsor to him. Heslingens and Hans Peder's came over to our house. We did not have other guests. The boy is named Mads Adolf Hansen. We call him Adolf because we do not think Mads is a pretty name. The boy got a dark brown felt hat, a small square silk scarf, a white bib, a long brown woolen frock, a white petticoat, a shirt, a pair of black woolen stockings and a pair of lacquered boots. Ellen gave him some clothes for everyday wear: the blue checkered dress which Dorthe gave her daughter when she was in church, a flannel petticoat, a new cotton pinafore and a small handkerchief. Adolf can almost walk. He cannot say much except num-num and dada. He is basically a good baby. He often sleeps all night without getting anything to drink, and we often have great pleasure in him. Niels Ebbe's Katrine and Johannes often come over to see him. One day they asked if they could take him home with them. You will have to excuse us for the late reply. We have been busy because we had to bring Adolf to church, and now we have started cleaning beets so Bodil had to drive the beet horsewagon the last couple of days of her school holidays, and she had to write the letter. This is all for now. Greetings from all of us. We are all well, and we hope to hear the same from you. The Heslingens and Hans Peders send their regards. Their son has not been to church yet. The warmest regards from all of us. Anders Hansen


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