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 tug on his overalls
He looked down into the eyes of a little
boy.
“Mister,” he said, “| 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 Two dollars & thirty 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 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 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.’
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