[StBernard] career choice

[Westley Annis]

	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
three objects: 
	
	- a Bible, 
	
	- a silver dollar 
	
	- a bottle of whiskey. 
	
	"I'll just hide behind the door," the old preacher said to himself,
"and 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."

	
	The old man waited anxiously, and soon heard his son's footsteps as
he entered the house whistling and headed for his room. He 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. 
	
	"Lord have mercy," the old preacher whispered, "he's gonna be a
Congressman!"