Emphasis Preaching Journal

Grace Bedell lived in the village of Westfield, New York. In 1860 she was nine years old. But she could read and write and had opinions, so when she saw a picture of newly-elected President Abraham Lincoln, she sat down and wrote her opinion of him. She wrote to the President of the United States that he would be better looking and more appealing if he were to grow a beard. Lincoln wrote back to Grace Bedell. People might think him affected and silly if he grew whiskers at this stage, after being elected. Grace Bedell answered back. He looked solemn to the extreme, and little girls, and she was one, were scared of him. Whiskers would soften his harsh looks. On the way to the inauguration Lincoln travelled by special train, making stops along the way from Illinois to Washington. He ordered a stop in Westfield, New York. As usual at whistle-stops, a crowd gathered, and Lincoln spoke from the rear platform of his train car. He said, "I have a correspondent in this town named Grace Bedell, and if she's present, I hope she'll step forward." The astonished Grace identified herself. Lincoln smiled broadly. "Well, Grace, you see, I let these whiskers grow for you! I hope you think I'm better looking now." Grace said, "You look wonderful now, and I bet you're going to be the best President this country ever had." And the train carried Lincoln from this encounter with one of his people to his destiny.
-- Mosley