what's he gonna be??

[Guest charis]

Old 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

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!"