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 his age, 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.
>
>
>
> 1. A bible.
>
> 2. A silver dollar.
>
> 3. A bottle of whisky.
>
> 4. And a Playboy magazine.
>
>
>
> 'I'll just hide behind the door,' the old preacher
said to
himself.
> 'When he comes home from school today, 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
> business man, and that would be okay, too. But if he picks up
the
> bottle, he's going to be a no-good drunken bum, and Lord, what a
shame
> that would be. And worst of all if he picks up that magazine
he's going
> to be a skirt-chasing womanizer.'
>
> The old man waited anxiously, and soon heard his son's foot-
steps 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 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.'
