With pen in hand, Carroll County author Lois Szymanski looked up from a copy of one of her latest books, "Out of the Sea: Today's Chincoteague Pony," and asked the bouncing girl in front of her, "And how would you like your book signed?"

"To me and my mom." The words jiggled out almost incoherently as mom looked on with an exhausted excitement that only a parent can understand.

It was the 83rd annual Chincoteague Pony Penning -- held the last Thursday in July. The event is a modern-day recipe of volunteer firefighters, horses, children, a carnival and tradition, all baked together with saltwater, humidity and the background of excited families.

In her book, "Out of the Sea," Szymanski details that "an event similar to the pony penning was held during the 17th century."

But how the Chincoteague Ponies first arrived on the island is the subject of folklore. One of the popular theories is that the horses survived the sinking of a Spanish galleon in the 16th century.

Yet U.S. government authorities insist the ponies descended from domestic animals placed on the island in the 17th century to graze and to avoid taxation. How boring.

Last Thursday I jumped at the chance to travel to this Eastern Shore paradise with several folks from "The Feather Fund," the Community Foundation of Carroll County and its executive director, Audrey Cimino.

The Feather Fund is a special purpose fund of the foundation. It plays a special role as one of myriad ingredients in this magical annual event.

Each year, the fund assists a child in the purchase of a Chincoteague Pony at the auction held by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Co., which owns the herd.

The roots of The Feather Fund go back to 1995, when Szymanski trekked to the auction with her family to buy a pony with $500 earned by her daughters. But when $500 was not enough, keen-eyed firefighters introduced kind strangers Carollynn and Ed Suplee to the Szymanski family, and they helped them buy a pony.

Carollynn Suplee had cancer and had found inspiration in Psalm 91, verse 4, "The Lord will cover you with feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge." Szymanski explains in "Out of the Sea" that Suplee told her that after the firefighter called the Szymanski family to her attention, Suplee "looked over and a seagull feather drifted down in front of me ... and I knew I was supposed to do this."

The Suplees continued to help other children buy a pony every year afterward until 2003 when Carollynn's cancer returned. She passed away that October.

The Feather Fund was formed shortly after her death and continues her magical work to this day.

Szymanski, author of 16 books for young readers, was at the Chincoteague Fire Department carnival last week to sign copies of "Out to Sea." (For anyone interested in the Chincoteague Ponies, "Out to Sea" is a must for your library.)

According to one review, before its publication "there were no books available that introduced new Chincoteague Pony owners to ponies of this kind living off the island."

It was a delight to see The Feather Fund -- which helped buy three ponies -- in action. For more information on The Feather Fund, the Community Foundation and how you can help make a difference, go to www.featherfund.org or www.carrollcommunityfoundation.org or call 410-876-5505.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. E-mail him at kdayhoff@carr.org.

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