Betsy Brandon Meets the President.

There was a flurry of excite-moment in the Brandon household early one morning in 1791. It was the day that General Washington, the president, was supposed to visit Salisbury, North Carolina. Everybody planned to be there. Everybody, it seemed, except fourteen-year-old Betsy, the oldest child of Squire Richard Brandon's family. Betsy had to stay at home to finish the chores.

"Ha! Betsy won't get to see the president," teased the younger children, climbing into the family buggy.

But Betsy was not one to mope. She returned to the kitchen and swept the floor. Then she took her bonnet from the hook on the back of the door. She was going outside to feed the chickens. But what was that rumbling noise?

Betsy hurried to the front door and peeked out. Her eyes grew wide. Coming down the road that passed in front of the house was the most beautiful coach she had ever seen. It was pale ivory and trimmed in gold.

As it came near, Betsy felt herself drawn down the pathway to get a better view. The coach was decorated with scenes that reminded Betsy of the four seasons. And it had a great emblem on it, like a coat of arms.

The driver pulled on the reins. "Whoa!" he said. The harnesses tinkled musically as the four fine horses halted right in front of the gate where Betsy stood.

The door of the coach opened, and a tall, handsome man in uniform stepped down. He was almost as tall as her father. He tipped his hat and nodded at her. Then another, even more handsome man stepped out. He was white-haired and stood at least six-feet-four.

"Good morning, miss," said the white-haired man. His face was stern and deeply lined, but his blue eyes were warm and friendly.

"Good morning, sir," Betsy said, quavering.

"Is your father home?"

"No, sir."

"Is your mother home?"

As Betsy shook her head, her braids moved back and forth. "My family went to Salisbury to see the president," she explained. "Did you not wish to see the president, too?" The voice was kind.

"Oh, yes, sir," Betsy replied, "but I must stay here to do the chores."

"If you make breakfast for us," came the reply, "I promise that you will see the president before the others will."

Thinking that the president would soon pass by on his way to Salisbury, Betsy hurried into the kitchen. She cooked a delicious breakfast that the men enjoyed.

They thanked her and were about to leave. Betsy asked, "Sir, when my family returns, to whom shall I say I served breakfast?"

The white-haired man climbed inside the coach. Leaning out the window, he smiled. "Just tell them you served breakfast to President Washington and his aide," he said. And the coach rolled away in a cloud of dust.

Editor's note: President Washington traveled through North Carolina during 1791. The story of Betsy Brandon preparing breakfast for him is supposed to be true.