Country Preacher
An old country preacher had a teenage son, and 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 whisky
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 disgustedly whispered, 'He's
gonna run for Congress.''
An old country preacher had a teenage son, and 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 whisky
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 disgustedly whispered, 'He's
gonna run for Congress.''