Ada seorang anak perempuan kecil yang bernama Grace Bedell, dan tinggal di New York.
Saat berusia 11 tahun, dia menulis surat kepada seorang pria yang sangat terkenal. Surat itu berisi permintaan agar si pria tersebut memelihara jenggot. Grace menganggap wajah pria itu terlalu kurus, dan pria itu akan tampak lebih baik apabila berjenggot.
Suatu hari, ketika pria itu datang ke kota Grace, yaitu kota New York, dengan naik kereta api, dia minta untuk bertemu dengan Grace. Grace pun pergi menemuinya. Ketika pria itu melihat Grace, dia kemudian mencium Grace dan berkata. “Kamu lihat sendiri kan, aku membiarkan jenggot ini tumbuh untukmu, Grace.”
Siapakah pria ini? Anda mungkin sering melihat gambar atau photonya. Namanya tidaklah asing lagi, yaitu Abraham Lincoln, salah satu Presiden Amerika Serikat yang paling terkenal. Inilah isi Suratnya….
N Y
Westfield Chatauque Co
Oct 15. 1860
Hon A B Lincoln
Dear Sir
My father has just home from the fair and brought home your picture and Mr. Hamlin’s. I am a little girl only eleven years old, but want you should be President of the United States very much so I hope you wont think me very bold to write to such a great man as you are. Have you any little girls about as large as I am if so give them my love and tell her to write to me if you cannot answer this letter. I have got 4 brother’s and part of them will vote for you any way and if you will let your whiskers grow I will try and get the rest of them to vote for you you would look a great deal better for your face is so thin. All the ladies like whiskers and they would tease their husband’s to vote for you and then you would be President. My father is a going to vote for you and if I was a man I would vote for you to but I will try and get every one to vote for you that I can I think that rail fence around your picture makes it look very pretty I have got a little baby sister she is nine weeks old and is just as cunning as can be. When you direct your letter dir[e]ct to Grace Bedell Westfield Chatauque County New York
I must not write any more answer this letter right off
Good bye
Grace Bedell
Kita dapat membayangkan betapa gembiranya Grace, karena seorang presiden mau mendengarkannya. Bahwa surat seorang anak perempuan kecil seperti Grace, mampu mengubah sejarah.
Sumber : https://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/speeches/gracebedell.htm