Posted by Brad W. (65.166.15.20) on November 26, 2001 at 14:30:21:
> > > 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> > > "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."> > >> > > The world is full of people who need> > > someone who understands.