The last time I'd been at a horse sale, I'd stood out front with the strong, useful horses.
This time I found myself in the back among the old, broken-down, used-up creatures.
The people who came to look at us weren't much better.
They were mostly poor and hopeless-looking themselves.
Sometimes a shopper from the nicer part of the sale would wander past.
One of these was a gentleman farmer with a kind, ruddy face. A boy was with him.
The gentleman saw me and stopped. I pricked my ears and looked at him.
"Look, Willie," the man said to the boy.
"Now there's a horse that's known better days."
"Do you think he was ever a carriage horse, Grandpa?" the boy asked.
"I wouldn't be surprised," his grandfather replied.
"He might have been anything when he was young.
If you look beyond his poor condition, you can still see his fine breeding."
He gave me a pat on the neck.
I stretched my nose toward him in response, and the boy stroked my face.
"Look how sweet he is!" the boy said.
"Can't you buy him and make him young again, like you did with Ladybird?"
"I can't make all old horses young, Willie," the farmer said.
"Besides, Ladybird wasn't that old. She was just run-down and treated badly."
"How do you know this one's any older, Grandpa?" Willie replied.
"He still has a nice-looking mane and tail, and his eyes aren't sunken in like some old horses.
At least check his teeth to see his age."
The farmer laughed. "You're as horsey as your old grandfather," he teased.
The man from Skinner's stable had been listening to all this.
"Your grandson is right, sir," he spoke up.
"This horse isn't terribly old, just tired out from cab work.
I heard the vet say he'd be good as new with six months' rest.
And you won't find a better-tempered animal anywhere."
The farmer talked with him a little more, then felt my legs and looked into my mouth.
"Thirteen or fourteen, I'd guess," he said. "Could you trot him for us?"
The other man jogged me in a circle.
I arched my thin neck and stretched out my stiff legs as best I could.
"What's the lowest you'll take for him?" the farmer asked.
"Five pounds, sir. That was the lowest price my boss set."
"It's taking a chance," the farmer said with a sigh.
He pulled out some money and handed it to the man.
Young Willie could hardly contain his joy as they led me away.
When they got me home, the farmer told his workers to turn me out in a grassy field to rest.
He also wanted me to have hay and grain every day.
"He'll be your special project, my boy," he told Willie.
"You're in charge of his care from now on."
Willie was proud of his new job and took it very seriously.
He came to see me every day, spending time with me and making sure I had enough to eat.
His name for me was Old Crony.
I spent that winter with complete rest, plenty of food, kind people, and pleasant surroundings.
By spring I was feeling almost young again!
Finally the farmer decided it was time to try me in harness.
He and Willie hooked me to a small carriage and drove me a few miles.
By then my legs were no longer stiff, and I enjoyed the work.
"He's growing young, Willie," the farmer said with a smile.
"We'll give him a little easy work to get him fit again.
By summer he'll be as good as Ladybird.
He's well-trained and has very good gaits."
"I'm so glad you bought him, Grandpa!" the boy said.
"So am I," the farmer replied. "But he has you to thank for it, my boy.
Now all we need is to find him a good, safe home where he'll be lightly worked and highly valued."
For a couple of months, the pair took me out with the carriage fairly often.
Soon I was back in shape and pulling them happily all around the neighborhood.
One day the grooms spent extra time getting me ready.
They made my black coat shine, trimmed the stray hairs off my legs, and polished my hooves.
Even the harness seemed extra clean.
When Willie arrived, he seemed happy and anxious at the same time.
"Do you think they'll like him, Grandpa?" he asked the farmer.
"I don't know, my boy. All we can do is give it a try."
They got into the carriage and picked up the reins.
We headed out of the farm and down the road.
I wasn't sure where we were going, but I knew that something unusual was about to happen.