A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a
sign advertising the 4 pups. And set about nailing it to a post on the
edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he
felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of a little
boy.
"Mister," he said, "I want to buy one of your puppies."
"Well," said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat of the back of his
neck, "These puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal
of money."
The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep
into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up
to the
farmer.
"I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?" "Sure,"
said the farmer. And with that he let out a whistle. "Here, Dolly!" he
called.
Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four
little balls of fur. The little boy pressed his face
against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight.
As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something
else stirring inside the doghouse. Slowly another little ball appeared,
this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a
somewhat awkward manner, the little pup began hobbling toward the
others, doing its best to catch up.... "I want that one," the little
boy said, pointing to the runt. The farmer knelt down at the boy's side
and said, "Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to
run and play with you like these other dogs would."
With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached
down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so
he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg
attaching itself to a specially made shoe. Looking back up at
the farmer, he said, "You see sir, I don't run too well myself,
and he will need someone who understands."
With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down and picked up the
little pup. Holding it carefully he handed it to the little boy.
"How much?" asked the little boy.
"No charge," answered the farmer, "There's no charge for love."
The world is full of people who need someone who understands.
