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Many years ago, back in the days of The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, there was a carnival that traveled from town to town and tried to lift the people's spirits.

In that carnival was strong, but old horse. He was a big Clydesdale, appropriately named, 'Clyde.' He worked with the carnival men, drawing wagons and erecting the carnival's biggest prize: the carousel. Old Clyde would drag the carefully carved horses across dirt and grass. He'd sweat long and hard under the beating sun, helping his cruel master raise the carousel poles. For all his work, he was poorly fed, mistreated, and ignored.

One day, after hours of hauling steal and wood, Clyde's master tethered him to a wooden post next to the carousel. It broke the old horse's heart to see all the children laugh and smile at the manmade horses. They weren't real and they couldn't run on their own, yet the children loved them. Clyde, on the other hand, was hardly noticed. It stood to reason: he was dirty and rather faded.

Clyde closed his eyes for rest, when the voice of his master caught his ears:

"Sorry, kid. But you gotta pay if you wanna ride."

Clyde glanced at the carousel's ticket booth. A humble boy, Tom, stood with a crate of carrots and apples in hand.

"I can pay, sir," Tom smiled. "I got these here for my ticket. Planted ‘em, grew ‘em, and gathered ‘em myself."

"No can do, kid." Clyde's master replied. "Maybe next time."

Disappointed, Tom walked away and sulked on the ground next to Clyde. He watched the other children on the carousel in envy.

Sympathetic, Clyde nuzzled his cheek with his nose, then started licking his ear. Tom giggled. "Hey, that tickles!"

Reaching into the crate, Tom handed him a carrot. "You want this? Got no use for it now."

Delighted, Clyde accepted the carrot while Tom got him another treat. "Here. Apple for dessert." Clyde scarfed the fruit so fast, it disappeared in seconds. Tom laughed. "Boy oh boy, you're hungry, ain't ya?"

But the boy didn't stop there. He then fetched a bucket of cool water for Clyde to drink, and when Clyde's thirst was quenched, Tom began brushing his dusty coat. It was not long before old Clyde began to look stronger, brighter, and prettier.

In return for such kindness, Clyde lowered his back and allowed Tom to ride him. He proceeded to trot in a circle, around the wooden post, until alas, the sun began to set.

Tom patted Clyde on the nose one last time, and said: "You know what? You're better than any carousel. Yes, sir."With that, Tom hugged Clyde and said goodbye. Clyde watched Tom leave the carnival- happy, sad, and grateful.

"Mommy! Look at the pretty horsey! Can I ride him?"

To Clyde's surprise, a little girl approached him with a smile. Then another child, a young boy, came forward. Then another child, and another. Suddenly, everyone abandoned the carousel for beautiful Clyde.

His master stared at the spectacle, dumbfounded.