About 30 kids were amazed May 10 when our America's 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, dropped in on the Bethlehem Public Library for a visit.

He does like to read. He likes to tell stories, too, and regaled everyone with tales from his own childhood. He also spoke about his ascent to our nation's highest office during the Civil War. That came with the help of Pennsylvania, which voted for him twice.

After his presentation, Abe was peppered with questions from many fascinated kids, fueled by pretzels and cookies supplied by the library. One asked why Americans really had to fight each other. Though he tried, even Lincoln was unable to answer that question.

Asked how tall he was when "fully grown," Lincoln responded that he was 6-foot 4 inches, but he's shrunk since then.

"We're downsizing," he quipped.

Finally, one boy wanted to know whether Lincoln really hunted vampires.

Thanks to a grant from Northampton Community College, Lincoln was portrayed by Jim Getty, who just happens to live in Gettysburg.