There was a farmer with puppies for sale who painted a sign advertising the four pups and nailed it to a post at the corner of his property. Just as he finished, he felt a tug at his overalls and turned to see a little boy.
“Mister,” the boy said, “I want to buy one of your puppies.” “Well,” replied the farmer, wiping the sweat from his brow, “these puppies come from great parents and are priced accordingly.”
The boy looked down, then reached deep into his pocket and pulled out a handful of change. “I have thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?”
“Sure,” said the farmer, and with a whistle, he called, “Here, Dolly!” Out from the doghouse ran Dolly, followed by four little bundles of fur. The boy pressed his face against the chain-link fence, his eyes sparkling with joy. As the puppies approached, he noticed something else moving inside the doghouse. CONTINUE BELOW
Slowly, a smaller puppy emerged, sliding down the ramp. It hobbled awkwardly toward the others, trying to keep up.
“I want that one,” the boy said, pointing to the runt. The farmer knelt beside him and said, “Son, you don’t want that puppy. He won’t be able to run and play like the others.”
The boy stepped back from the fence, rolled up one leg of his trousers, and revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg, attached to a special shoe. Looking 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 gently picked up the little pup and handed it to the boy.
“How much?” asked the boy.
“No charge,” replied the farmer. “There’s no charge for love.”
