The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-03
CHARITY |S LEAST
 AS AGED PREACHER TURNS HOME WARD
Few Travellers Drop Coins to Old Man Who Tends III Mate Midst Rush at
 Station

Faith, hope and charity. those three. but the greatest of all Is charity 80 runs the Scripture, but charity seemed to be the least. when an aged man who had passed the century mile post last August, with hts mate by hls side. entered the main waiting room of the Terminal station. They had arrived in Blr minsham penniless, and were leav irtg in the same condition.
 The strange guests were the Rev. and Mrs. J. M Bush. Hulrs Oil Fields, Texas. They had left their home four weeks ago and journeyed alone to Nashville. where he had taken his wife to a throat specialist Despite the hundred years, Father Time had dealt gently with him: his eyes were still bright and he was able to walk about and talk intelligently. His mate, however. had been less forum ate, and traces of III health were visible on her slender figure. Her brow was furrowed, as were her hands, but her fair complexion was good and a bright red glow was upon
 
 1T have been so sick" she said, and stretched the length of her fig ure upon one of the benches in the waiting room, with her head placed upon the lap of her husband. There they were-both of them-relics of bygone years. The old man gently stroked her hair and when she com- plained of being warm he famed her patiently with a cardboard. Gen. tly he carressed her and encouraged her to be brave.
 Although the years hung heavy. there was still a bright spirit mani tested. and sense of humor.
 You mustn't get sick" he said With a smile on her lips she an- swered him, saying, "No; if I should die you might marry again" He quickly assured her that he would never marry again. and told her not to worry.
 "When we arrived in Birmingham we had s2. Being minister my self, having been ordained 64 years ago, I applied to the Baptist churches for aid. that is, the First and Sec ond churches The ministers in charge of these pastorates promised to assist us, but you see, we couldn't I of the Salvation Army and he pur- chased two tickets for my wife and I to get us as far as Tuscaloosa. How much the fare is I do not know. but anyway we managed to pay as much as s2 on the tickets.
 Ut makes me feel bad to think that we have been neglected by members of our own church, because in my country, we always manage to help widows and orphans and the aged and infirm"
 He said that he was the father of 1s children. but none of them had lived and that he adopted two others.
 Both of these boys" he said, "are now grown and both of them are Baptist ministers"
 My wife and I are entirely alone now, and 1t is our hope that we will find some of her relatives in Tus- caloosa who will assist us in getting back to Texas.
 My wife Is smart little woman" he continued. gently stroking her hair. Last year. we raised so bush els of sweet potatoes, lot of water melons. and fine garden on little piece of ground. Just we two did
 
 and we haven't been able to do any thing since" Every word the old man would say always received af- firmation from his little wife.
 Many of the travellers who came through the station saw the desper- ate need of the aged couple and gave them money. Mrs. Mary E. Jones. Tuscaloosa, asked if they had had supper. Informed that they had not eaten since early morning, she went Into the dining room and purchased a supper for them. The husband ate heartily but the wife was too III. However. a bottle of sweet milk was given to her to take on her trip to Tuscaloosa.
 "I don't know what is to become of us," said Mrs. Bush, ''but l have a firm faith the Lord will always provide for his own.'