At a public water fountain, it is customary for people to toss in coins and make a wish. Everyone realizes that it's superstition--they don't actually think it will make their wish come true. They simply do it for fun.

Basically, I reached in and took the quarters I saw. I told my father and he said it was wrong of me to do so, that I was taking something that did not belong to me.

I immediately noted to him that the city would have to hire someone to clean the fountain otherwise, and the wages would cost more than was earned through the fountain. I also commented that the fountain was an antique, and the small drains could easily be clogged, or that the upper basins could easily be chipped. After I said so, though, I wondered if I was just rationalizing.

And so, I come to the point: I would appreciate some thoughts on this.

gab"A minor dilemma if ever there was one"by