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 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 some what 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.
Just waiting till it's all over.