English Original
A farmer had some puppies to sell. He painted a sign advertising the pups and was nailing it to a post when he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of a little boy.
"Mister," the boy said, "I want to buy one of your puppies."
"Well," said the farmer, wiping sweat from his neck, "these puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money."
The boy looked down for a moment. Then, reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change. "I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?"
"Sure," said the farmer. He whistled and called, "Here, Dolly!"
Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly, followed by four little balls of fur. The boy pressed his face against the chain-link fence, his eyes dancing with delight.
As the dogs approached, the boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse. Slowly, another little ball appeared, noticeably smaller. It slid down the ramp and then began hobbling awkwardly toward the others, trying its best to catch up.
"I want that one," the boy said, pointing to the runt.
The farmer knelt beside him. "Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like the others."
At this, the boy stepped back from the fence. He reached down and rolled up one leg of his trousers, revealing a steel brace running down both sides of his leg, attached to a specially made shoe.
Looking up at the farmer, he said, "You see, sir, I don't run too well myself. He will need someone who understands."
中文翻译
一位农夫有几只小狗要卖。他画了一个广告牌，正往院子边的柱子上钉时，感觉有人拉了拉他的工装裤。他低头看见了一个小男孩的眼睛。
"先生，"男孩说，"我想买您的一只小狗。"
"嗯，"农夫擦了擦脖子上的汗说，"这些小狗血统优良，价格不菲。"
男孩低头沉默了片刻。然后，他把手深深伸进口袋，掏出一把零钱。"我有三十九美分。这够我看一眼吗？"
"当然可以，"农夫说。他吹了声口哨，喊道："过来，多莉！"
多莉从狗屋里跑出来，冲下斜坡，后面跟着四个毛茸茸的小球。男孩把脸贴在铁丝网上，眼里闪烁着喜悦的光芒。
当小狗们走近时，男孩注意到狗屋里还有动静。慢慢地，又一个小球出现了，明显更小一些。它滑下斜坡，然后开始笨拙地、一瘸一拐地朝其他小狗走去，努力想跟上。
"我想要那只，"男孩指着那只最弱小的狗崽说。
农夫在他身边蹲下。"孩子，你不想要那只小狗。它永远没法像其他狗那样和你一起跑、一起玩。"
听到这话，男孩从栅栏边退后一步。他弯下腰，卷起一条裤腿，露出了沿着他双腿两侧固定的一副钢制支架，连接着一只特制的鞋子。
他抬头看着农夫，说道："您看，先生，我自己也跑不太好。它会需要一个理解它的人。"