Such perversions were placed on Lincoln's meaning throughout the South that his name was the most abhorred of all names, until the miseries of reconstruction, by contrast, so brought in comparisons that he became known as the one great soul who had not, through all the terrible struggle, ever uttered a single bitter word against them, and who was the one great friend who could have given them justice and peace. Soon the typical view of the intelligent South was that "his untimely and tragic end was one of the severest catastrophes of the war," and, to the South, his death was "the direst misfortune that ever darkened the calendar of its woes." Up to the time of his nomination and following him in many ways on to his death, the Eastern States took up the most trivial news items and used them for ridicule, as representing Lincoln to be the mere caricature of a man. One of these minor incidents, showing this defaming method, is represented as follows in the newspaper headlines of New York and New England. The great news, in the midst of the fearful times, relating to this incident was usually introduced in these words, "Old Abe kisses a Pretty Girl." Here is the true story: A little girl named Grace Bedell lived at Westfield, New York. Her father was a republican, but her two brothers were democrats, and, therefore, hearing much excited argument, she was greatly interested. Of course, she was a republican and she wanted to help her father. Seeing a portrait of Lincoln gave her an idea. If Lincoln only had whiskers like her father, he would look better, and so her brothers might not be so much against him. No sooner was this improvement thought of than she hastened to put it into an earnest letter to Mr. Lincoln, telling him of her idea. She seemed to think that all great men, like her father, must have a little girl, so she said in closing, "If you have no time to answer my letter, will you allow your little girl to reply for you?" Such a letter could not be ignored by the great-hearted man to whom it came. He replied, "Springfield, Illinois, Oct. 19, 1860. "My dear little Miss: "Your very agreeable letter of the fifteenth is received. I regret the necessity of saying I have no daughter. I have three sons; one seventeen; one nine, and one seven years of age. They, with their mother, constitute my whole family. As to whiskers, having never worn any, do you think people would call it a piece of silly affectation if I should begin now? "Your very sincere well-wisher, "A. LINCOLN." It happened, when on the journey to Washington to be inaugurated, that the train stopped at Westfield. Suddenly, in speaking to the people, he remembered. "I have a little correspondent at this place," he said, "I would like to see her."