Betsy Brandon meets the president.

There was a flurry of excitement 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. For most of the people, it would be their only chance to see anyone so important. 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 as they climbed into the family buggy. Betsy tried to hide her disappointrnent as they rode away.

But Betsy was not one to mope. She returned to the kitchen and washed the breakfast dishes 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? It sounded like wheels, but not like those of her father's buggy. It seemed to come from the opposite direction.

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 elaborate scenes that reminded Betsy of the four seasons. And it bore an impressive emblem, like a coat of arms.

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

Fearfull Betsy wanted to run, but she felt as if her feet were glued to the path. 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 in her direction. Then another, even more handsome, man stepped out. He was white haired and at least six-feet-four. Surely they were men of importance on their way to Salisbury to see the president.

"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's voice quavered when she spoke.

"Is your father home?"

"No, sir."

"Is your mother home?"

As Betsy shook her head, her golden braids moved back and forth. "My family all 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. "I wanted to see the president more than anything, but I must stay here to do the chores."

The two men exchanged amused glances. "If you will prepare breakfast for us, I promise you will see the president before any of the others."

Thinking that the president would soon pass by on his way to Salisbury, Betsy hurried into the kitchen. She prepared a delicious breakfast, which the two men seemed to enjoy.

They thanked her and prepared 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.