Was it Heaven or Hell?

After reading "Was it Heaven or Was it Hell?" I have found myself thinking about lies and how they can be beneficiary or malicious in one way or another. I took the story as another "parable" by Twain, whom I believe thinks that lying is a natural human action but some positive things can arise from such lies. When the doctor lies about Margaret being well, I originally thought he was trying to make the situation easier and give the girl some hope. However, the doctor seems blunt to me and explains that every person lies. Based on the exercise we did in class, I guess it sort of supports that. No one in the class denied doing the exercise saying they haven't told a lie recently. There were some doozies, but it just proves that people lie every day. As my mother told me, one lie leads to another and I am certainly guilty of that. Is it right to tell a lie that can help someone? I remember growing up having a blue parakeet named Joe. I really loved that bird. However, one morning I went to uncover him as I did every day, and I saw him on the floor. My mother told me he was just taking a nap and tired of being on the stick all day. When I returned from school, (kindergarden) "Joe" was back on the stick looking younger and revitalized. I guess sometimes the truth hurts too much.