The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-02-06

= o1StiSu tttlit titdt lItCtSr IL iiS
land and Europe rs well as in the
United States statement his auto
biography laIis!llJ demonstrates At
the time re wrote. he claimed that
his autobiography covered the long
est period OF time lalmost eighty
years. ever covered BY any a~utobiog-
raphS. The statement of this elni-
nent man (wllo died IN Louisville on
July 9, 1859 would certainly seem to
deserve a considerate hearing.
In tho spring Of 1872. it will he
recalled, George Washington, the
President Of the United States, made
a tour Of the South. In turn he
traVerseu Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, and Georgia, as far
as Observation-Disclosures through Au-
gusta. Columbia, Camden, Charlotte.
Salisbury. Salem. and on to Mount
Vernon. In his History CT Rowan
County," Or. Jethro Runlpie says:
A General Washington approached
the borders OF North Carolina Capt.
Iohn Beard, of Salisbury, with the
Rowan Light Horse Company set
ont for Charlotte to meet and escort
him to Salisbury" According to the
account Of Caldwell. who was liv-
ing in Salisbury at the time. thirteen
young men, headed by himself, were
sent Onward ahead Of the main
body, to meet General Washington at
the line between North Carolina and
South Carolina and escort him to
within about fifteen miles of Sails
bury, where the whole was
encalnped to receive him.
1t vas upon this last lap of Wash
lnston's journey to Salisbury that oc-
Cured the charming incident OF
which little Betsy Brandon Was n
of the dramatis persona. The mar
ratiye here given being the tradition
airy lccOunt-aS [ have heard it all
my life, differs slightly in detail,
though not st I'll in substance. from
the account given by itunlplc.
AS Washington and his cavalcade
neared the home OF Richard brandon.
Esq.-the old Stockton place, about
six miles southwest Of Salisbury-he
bade his cavalcade halt and rode for
ward alOne to the door Of the arm
house. Fatigued from the eXertions
Of the march-for Washington WAS
the ordeal Of a long public reception
at Salisbury, Washington determined
upon q little rest and refreshnlent be-
fore proceeding to Salisbury. There
appeared at the door, in answer TO
his call, tho rosy-checlled, bright
eyed Betsy Brandon OF twelve or
fourteen In reply 60 the
strangers inquiry if he might pro
cure q cup Of coffee and some light
refreshment. she answered that there
was no one at home.
Il am all alone. Everybody has
gone to see General Washington but
me-" she explained. ~piaintivciy. Aud
oh. I do so wish l could see him"
well" replied the benign looking
stranger, 81 think we can arrange
that. Let's make q bargain? If you'll
: MAKE me a Gu OF coffee III prom
? Use you u sight CT General Wishing
ton"
l " ~, x-,o -~nI;oi r. I1no
ed. the cup Of coffee quickly prepared
: by Betsy. and even more quickly
| drunk by the tired traveller.
4 Now" demanded excited little
Betsy, eagerly and ~unsusrectingiy
you must keep your promise ant
: show me General Washington"
Imagine her excitement and Amos
G dismay when tho venerable gentle
Z man, with q grave and genial smile
replied:
General Washington is now before
: you"
I One other Little incident in Wash
ington's progress to Salisbury is Q
Q record. AS General Washington ap
a preached Salisbury on the Concor
s road, some half a mile from town
and at a point near where Mr.. Sam
3 uel Harrison now (1831) lives say
r Rumpie, "he was met by q o1npan.
Of the boys OF Salisbury. Each o
tneSe DOyS HaO q Outktali II MS lift
a symbol Of independence-and thei
e appearance. was quite neat and at
tractive. The president expressed
himself much pleased by the boys
turnout. saying that it was the nices
thing he had seen.
Returning from this disnession,
l append below an exact tranScrIp
from the autobiosraphical narratlV
Of Or. Caldwell:
IS zone reminiScence more, connects
with Salisbury. shall close the histOr
of myself In the South; at least. i
n that particular part Of the South. !
l. was during my residence in tina
L. place that 1 had first an opportunit
n Of seeing and approaching the perso
l! Of General Washington. and the graf
l. ification OF being noticed by him. TIL
, circumstances Of the case were as fol
a. lows:
Is ..Some years after his first eiectio