The Pastor and His Housekeeper
 
 The young French assistant pastor did not live in the main rectory, because
 it was reserved for the pastor and his housekeeper.  One day the pastor
 invited his new assistant to dinner at the rectory.  The young priest could
 not help but notice that the housekeeper was especially lovely and deep in
 his heart he wondered whether she was in truth only a housekeeper.  The
 middle aged pastor seemed to divine this concern, because after dinner he
 reassured his assistant over a glass of fine brandy that there was no cause
 for concern.... she was merely the rectory housekeeper and cook.
 
 A week or so later the housekeeper came to the pastor and said, "Father, ever
 since your new assistant came for dinner I haven't been able to find that
 beautiful silver gravy ladle.  I thought it would turn up, but I still can't
 find it.  You don't suppose that he took it, do you?"
 
 Father Pastor said, "Well, I very much doubt it, but I'll write him a
 letter".  Then he sat down and wrote:  "Dear Father, I'm not saying that you
 took the antique silver gravy ladle and I'm not saying that you didn't take
 it.  But the fact remains that it has not been seen since you were here for
 dinner last week."
 
 His assistant received this letter, and answered it as follows:  "Dear Father
 Pastor, I am not saying that you sleep with your housekeeper and I am not
 saying that you do not.  But the fact remains that you'd have found that
 gravy ladle by now if ever you slept in your own bed."

Wil Stark, wstark04 (at) pobox _dot_com

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