it was getting time the boy should give some thought to choosing a profession.
Like many young men, the boy didn't have a clue what he wanted to do,
and 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 four objects on his desk:
- A Bible
- A silver dollar
- A bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey
- A Playboy magazine
The old preacher then says to himself "I'll just hide behind the door,
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 OK; but if 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 horrible magazine he's gonna be a
skirt-chasin' bum."
The old man waited anxiously, and soon heard his son's footsteps entering
the house and whistling and he headed for his room.
The boy tossed his books on the bed, and as he turned to leave spotted
the objects on the desk. With curiosity in his eye, he walked over to
inspect them.
He picked up the Bible and placed it under his arm, dropped the silver
dollar into his pocket, uncorked the bottle, and chugged a big long drink
while he studied the details of this month's centerfold.
"Lord have mercy," the old preacher disgustedly whispered, "he's gonna be
a Sailor!"
