A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign

advertising the 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 off 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.”

– Unknown