A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that read "Puppies For Sale". Signs like that have a way of attracting small children, and sure enough, a little boy appeared under the store owner's sign. "How much are you going to sell the puppies for?" he asked.
一位店家在他的大门上钉起广告牌，上面写着“小狗待售”。这类的广告似乎总能吸引小孩子，果然，一个小男孩来到了牌子下。“您的小狗卖多少钱？”小男孩问道。
The store owner replied, "Anywhere from $30 to $50."
店家回答说，“30到50美元之间。”
The little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some change. "Can I please look at them?"
小男孩从口袋里掏出一叠钞票。“我能不能看看它们呢？”
The store owner smiled and whistled and out of the kennel came Lady, who ran down the aisle[aɪl] of his store followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur. One puppy was lagging considerably behind. Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said, "What's wrong with that little dog?"
店家笑了笑，然后吹了声口哨。只见一位女士离开狗屋、从小店的过道上走出来，后面紧跟着五个小毛团。一只小狗明显地落在了最后。小男孩的注意力立刻被这只落后而又一撅一拐的小家伙所吸引，“这小狗有什么问题么？”
The store owner explained that the veterinarian had examined the little puppy and had discovered it didn't have a hip socket. It would always limp. It would always be lame. The little boy became excited. "That is the little puppy that I want to buy."
店家告诉男孩，兽医诊断说，这小狗缺少了膝盖骨，因此将终生都这样跛行、这样带着残疾。小男孩变得兴奋起来。“它就是我想要的小狗。”他说。
The store owner said. "No, you don't want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I'll just give him to you."
店家于是说，“不，你不会需要这小狗的。但如果你真的想要的话，我把它送给你了。”

The little boy got quite upset. He looked straight into the store owner's eyes, pointing his finger, and said, "I don't want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and I'll pay full price. In fact, I'll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a month until I have him paid for."
小男孩顿时变得不悦起来。他直视着店家的双眼，伸出手指说到“我不要你把它送给我。它和其它小狗一样值钱，我会付全价的。现在我就先给你2.37美元，而每月再给0.5元，直到全部付清。”
The store owner countered, "You really don't want to buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to run and jump and play with you like the other puppies."
店家还是不同意。“你真的不会想要这小狗的。它永远不能像其它小狗那样跑、跳或者陪你玩耍的。”
To this, the little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace. He looked up at the store owner and softly replied, "Well, I don't run so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands!"
听了店家的话，小男孩弯下腰，卷起自己的裤腿，里面是一条严重扭曲的残疾的左腿，支撑它的是一个金属架子。他抬起头望着店家，轻轻回答道，“你看，我自己也不能正常的跑，这小狗会需要一个真正理解它的主人。”

微信公众号：英语美文朗读 孟叔的微博：孟飞Phoenix 孟叔的抖音：184302945