Subject: Story with a message

Received this today and know I have heard it before but it's worth sharing as
it really has a good message.  God Bless and have a Great 4th,   Marty

There was a very old man who lived in a run down shack at the outskirts of
town. He lived there almost as long as the town existed. The townfolk thought
that he was probably very dumb & iliterate, or perhaps, even wise and just
stayed to himself, living like a hermit Perhaps at one time he was a king or
perhaps he was a drunk. No one really knew. 

The children, however, all made fun of him though, and threw cans at his
shack, breaking windows, and pulling his few flowers, that he had in the
garden. They were always harrassing him and making fun of him. One day, the
young town bully and 3 of his friends, decided that they would prove to
everyone, once and for all, that the old man was really dumb, and deserved to
be laughed upon. The bully would trick the old man. The bully happened to be
very good at catching birds and told his friends of his scheme to trick this
man. They went into the woods and the young bully caught a beautiful white
dove. The bully told his friends that they would go to the old man's shack,
and he would hid the dove behind his back, and then ask the man questions
about the bird. The last question would be, whether the bird was dead or
alive. If the old man said alive, then the bully would wring the dove's neck,
as he held it behind his back, and then show the old man that he was dead, to
prove the old man wrong. If the old man said that the bird was dead, then the
boy would let it fly away, again to prove the old man wrong. 

They proceeded to the old man's shack. The old man heard them as they
approached, and knew that they were going to try to harrass him again. The
boys, all laughing and calling the old man names, told him to come out. The
old man opened the door and carefully looked at all the boys. The bully,
jeering at him,said, "Old man, let's see just how wise you really are." The
bully was holding the dove behind his back.

The bully said, " tell us what do I have behind my back?" The old man knew of
he boy's reputation for catching birds, and answered, "A bird." The boys were
astonished that he guessed right. Still, the bully proceeded. " And what kind
of a bird is it." At this, the old man happened to glance a white feather
which fell to the ground. The old man answered, " It is a white dove." The
boys looked at their leader in shock. The bully, and leader of the group,
laughingly said," Well, I am quite sure he won't get the next question right.
" They all laughed! 

Then the bully asked the old man, " Well, if you think that you are so smart,
tell us old man, is the bird dead or alive?" They all laughed more at the old
man.

The old man, looked at each of their faces, a strong, hard look. Then he
looked with a hard stare, right into the bully's eyes, and answered......" The
answer to that question, lies in your hands only!!"

( Moral: We have many paths in life to choose from, some good and some
evil....it is purely up to each one of us, which one we choose to follow ! )