disease prevention

Miss Bea, the church organist, was in her eighties and had never been

married. She was much admired for her sweetness and kindness to all.The

pastor came to call on her one afternoon early in the spring, and she

welcomed him into her Victorian parlor. She invited him to have a seat while

she prepared a little tea. As he sat facing her old pump organ, the young

minister noticed a cut glass bowl sitting on top of it filled with water. In

the water floated, of all things, a condom. Imagine the shock and surprise.

Imagine his curiosity! Surely Miss Bea had flipped or something...! When she

returned with tea and cookies, they began to chat. The pastor tried to

stifle his curiosity about the bowl of water and its strange floater, but

soon it got the better of him, and he could resist no longer. "Miss Bea," he

said, "I wonder if you would tell me about this?" (pointing to the bowl).

"Oh, yes, " she replied, "isn't it wonderful? I was walking downtown last

Autum and I found this little package on the ground. The directions said to

put it on the organ, keep it wet, and it would prevent disease. And you

know... I haven't had a cold all winter."