#1115 - 39 Cents of Understanding
============================

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."


Thank you for inviting MountainWings in your mailbox.
See you tomorrow.