An old country preacher had a teenage son, and he felt it was getting time
the boy should give some thought to choosing a profession ...
Like many young men, the boy didn't really know what he wanted to do, and
he didn't seem too concerned about it. One day, while the boy was away at
school, his father decided to try an experiment. He went into the boy's room
and placed on his study table four objects:
- a Bible,
- a silver dollar,
- a bottle of whiskey, and
- a Playboy magazine.
"I'll just hide behind the door," the old preacher said to himself, "when
he comes home from school this afternoon, I'll see which object he picks up.
If it's the Bible, he's going to be a preacher like me, and what a blessing
that would be! If he picks up the dollar, he's going to be a businessman,
and that would be okay, too. But if he picks up the bottle, he's going to be
a no-good drunkard, and, Lord, what a shame that would be. And worst of all,
if he picks up that magazine he's gonna be a skirt-chasin' bum."
The old man waited anxiously, and soon heard his son's footsteps as he
entered the house whistling and headed for his room. The boy tossed his
books on the bed, and as he turned to leave the room he spotted the objects
on the table.
With curiosity in his eye, he walked over to inspect them ...
Finally, he picked up the Bible and placed it under his arm. He picked up
the silver dollar and dropped it into his pocket. He uncorked the bottle and
took a big drink while he admired this month's Centerfold.
"Lord have mercy," the old preacher whispered in disgust,
"he's gonna run for Congress ! Ain’t it the truth?
