Abraham Lincoln and his Beard

Grace was a smart 11 years old  girl. She had four brothers and four sisters in her big family. Grace goes for shopping with her mom to buy dresses for her and her siblings. She likes decorating her toy house and plays with the tiny little dolls. Grace spends her time by playing blind folded game with her friends.

The dining table is place of conference in her home.

That day, her mom and dad and all her siblings discussed about the Presidential election. Who is going to win Abraham Lincoln or Stephen Douglas? was the hot topic on the table.

Grace’s brothers, George and Levant wanted Stephen Douglas to win but her mom and dad wanted Lincoln to be the President of America so he would stop slavery in American territories and create  social freedom for African American.

Grace too liked Lincoln and wanted him to be the president because she also thought that he could help and save the people from slavery.

Grace’s dad attended a campaign held in support of Lincoln. Dad brought a campaign poster with Lincoln picture on it. He gave it to Grace. Grace thanked her Dad and ran into her room to take a good look at Lincoln’s face in the sunlight which entered through her room’s window.

When she was looking at the picture, she said to herself “He got a high forehead with serious expression on his face but something makes his face look weak”. Then a shadow fell across Lincoln’s face. Grace thought and said “He will look much better with beard”

Grace wrote a letter to Abraham Lincoln, the presidential candidate. In the letter she mentioned that your face look very thin so she suggested him to grow beard so that people and women will like him and will vote for him too.

Grace posted the letter addressed to Abraham Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois.

After a week, the post master, Mr. David Mann delivered a mail to Grace and said “It’s from Abraham Lincoln”

Grace was so excited to see the letter. She took the letter and ran home to show it to her brother Levant.

Levant asked her “Why would Lincoln write a letter to you?”

Grace replied “Because I wrote to him”

She went to her room and sat on the chair and started reading it. At the end of the letter Lincoln asked her “If I grow a beard now don’t you think people would call it a silly affection?”

Grace ended the letter with a sad thought that Lincoln won’t grow a beard.

Few months later, the election result was announced. It was Lincoln who won the election. The news reached the nook and corner of America.  Grace heard it from her parents. She was very happy jumping up and down with enjoyment.

A news reached Grace’s town, Westfield that President Lincoln is travelling to Washington D.C for his first Presidential Inauguration. He is going to stop at Westfield to see the people and thank them.

Grace along with her sisters joined the crowd who were waiting to see President Lincoln in Westfield railway station.

The train stopped. Lincoln came out of the last compartment to address the crowd. Grace wanted to see him but being a small girl, she tip toed and jumped.

Alice, her elder sister saw Lincoln and said to Grace “There he is! He does have beard”.

Lincoln, after his speech called out the little girl- Grace Bedell from the crowd.

A man from the crowd led Grace to Lincoln’s compartment in the train. Lincoln stepped down and shook hands with Grace. He said “Grace, can you see the beard? I grew this for you”.

Grace blushed. The crowd applauded for Grace and Lincoln. Lincoln kissed the little girl Grace and returned to his compartment.

Lincoln waved the U.S Flag and the train moved.

We all knew Abraham Lincoln for his great speeches and also for his “BEARD”.

As a memory, there is a bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln and Grace Bedell in Westfield setup in the year 1999.

MORAL : A smallest step makes a biggest change in our life. Never ignore the spark.