mother, constitute my whole family. As to the whiskers,
having never worn any, do you not think people would call it a piece
of silly affectation if I should begin it now? Your very sincere
well-wisher, A. LINCOLN."

When on the journey to Washington to be inaugurated, Lincoln's train
stopped at Westfield. He recollected his little correspondent and spoke
of her to ex-Lieutenant Governor George W. Patterson, who called out and
asked if Grace Bedell was present.

There was a large surging mass of people gathered about the train, but
Grace was discovered at a distance; the crowd opened a pathway to the
coach, and she came, timidly but gladly, to the President-elect, who
told her that she might see that he had allowed his whiskers to grow at
her request. Then, reaching out his long arms, he drew her up to him and
kissed her. The act drew an enthusiastic demonstration of approval from
the multitude.

Grace married a Kansas banker, and became Grace Bedell Billings.

LINCOLN AS A DANCER.

Lincoln made his first appearance in society when he was first sent to
Springfield, Ill., as a member of the State Legislature. It was not
an imposing figure which he cut in a ballroom, but still he was
occasionally to be found there. Miss Mary Todd, who afterward became
his wife, was the magnet which drew the tall, awkward young man from his
den. One evening Lincoln approached Miss Todd, and said, in his peculiar
idiom:

"Miss Todd, I should like to dance with you the worst way." The young
woman accepted the inevitable, and hobbled around the room with him.
When she returned to her seat, one of her companions asked mischievously:

"Well, Mary, did he dance with you the worst way."

"Yes," she answered, "the very worst."

SIMPLY PRACTICAL HUMANITY.

An instance of young Lincoln's practical humanity at an early period of
his life is recorded in this way:

One evening, while returning from a "raising" in his wide neighborhood,
with a number of companions, he discovered a stray horse, with saddle
and bridle upon him. The horse was recognized as belonging to a man who
was accustomed to get drunk, and it was suspected at once that he was
not far off. A short search only was necessary to confirm the belief.

The poor drunkard was found in a perfectly helpless condition, upon the
chilly ground. Abraham's companions urged the cowardly policy of leaving
him to his fate, but young Lincoln would not hear to the proposition.