The Preacher's Son

An old, country preacher had a teenage son, and it was time the
should consider choosing a profession. Like many young men, then
the boy didn't really know what he wanted to do -- and he didn't
seem overly concerned about it.

One day, while the boy was away at school, his father decided to
experiment. He went into the boy's room and placed on his study
table these three objects: a Bible, a silver dollar, and a bottle of
whiskey.

"Now then," the old preacher said to himself, "I'll just hide behind the
door, and when my son comes home from school this afternoon, I'll see
which of these three objects he picks up."

"If he picks up 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 too, I guess."

"But if he picks up the bottle, he's going to be a drunkard - a no-good
drunkard and Lord, what a shame that would be."

The old man was anxious as he waited, and soon he heard his son's footsteps
as he came into his room. He deposited his books on the bed, and as he
turned around to leave, spotted the objects on the table.

He walked over and inspected them He then picked up the Bible and placed
it under his arm, put the silver dollar in his pocket, and uncorked the
bottle and took a big drink.

"Lord have mercy," the old man whispered, "He's gonna be a democrat!"