Jake, The Carousel Pony

Hi! My name is Jake.  I'm a carousel pony.  I'm gong to tell you a story about me and some of my pals, and about our carousel, where we live and play.

We were all carved out of wood and painted by hand a long time ago.  We were made by wood-carvers who came to America from far across the sea.  The wood-carvers came to New York City to make carousel ponies for boys and girls to ride.  The wood-carvers were so proud of their skill and so happy to be in a new country.  They wanted the ponies they made to be as proud and happy as they where.  That's why we look so strong and as free and as fast as the wind.

These wood-carvers made me, Jake, and all my friends.  I'm what they call a Pinto Pony. That's because of my brown and white spots.  They are like the spots on a pinto bean.  Pinto beans are what cowboys eat when they are out on the range roping cows.

Let me tell you about Wildfire.  He is the biggest, strongest carousel pony of us all.  Wildfire is painted with such fiery bright colors the he looks like he is galloping through flames of fire.  Wildfire is my best friend.  He always rides along side his girlfriend, Bluebell.  Bluebell is a pretty little carriage pony.  She is painted white with a bright blue bridle.  She pulls a blue
carriage behind her.  Bluebell is the favorite of many little girls, who like to sit in her carriage and jingle the bells on her reins.  She and Wildfire have ridden together on the carousel for as long as I can remember. 

Then, there are Dusty and Shadow.  They like to make believe they are galloping across the country with cowboys and Indians.  They were made by the wood-carvers to look like they could gallop forever.  Dusty is painted brown and tan.  His mane and his tail are so log and silky that they fly in the wind when the carousel is going real fast.  Shadow is painted black with lots of white patches on his four legs.  Shadow likes to race with Dusty.  He says he can run faster than Dusty because he was made with longer and bigger legs than Dusty.  Dusty says he doesn't really mind if Shadow runs faster than he, because he knows Shadow can't run as far as he can. 

Shadow and Dusty have another friend.  She is Buttercup.  There are lots of girls who wish they could have a pony like Buttercup for their very own.  Buttercup loves to trot ahead of Dusty and Shadow.  Shadow and Dusty think Buttercup is just about the best trotter they have ever known.  She thinks our carousel is the greatest one ever imagined! The best part about our carousel is that it sits right next to a sunny, sandy beach along the ocean.  I love to watch the ocean waves rolling up onto the beach and to listen to the sounds the waves make when they reach the beach.  From our carousel we can also see and hear the seagulls as they fly and screech above the waves and over the beach.  What could be better than being a brightly colored carousel pony on such a happy carousel. 

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