A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell.
He painted a sign advertising the 4 puppies 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 good parents and cost a lot 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 39 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 were dancing with joy.
As the dogs walked over to the fence, the little boy noticed that something else stirring inside the doghouse.
Another little ball slowly appeared, this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp, it slid.
Then the little puppy began hobbling toward the others in a little awkward way, doing its best to catch up…
“I want that one,” said the little boy, 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 as other dogs would.”
With that, the little boy walked away 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.
He looked up at the farmer again and 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.”
