Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-04-15
A Child's Truthfulness.

A Child's Truthfulness.
| witnessed short time ago, in one of our
higher courts, beautiful illustration of the
simplicity and power of truth, A little girl
nine years of age was offered as a witness
against prisoner who was on trial for a felo-
ny committed in her fathers house. "Now,
Emily, said the counsel for the prisoner, up
on being offered as witness, 81 desire to
know if you understand the nature of an
oath ?" 81 don't know what you mean, y
was the simple answer. "There your Honor, -
said the counsel, addressing the court, sis
any thing further necessary to demonstrate
the validity of my objection? This witness
should be rejected. She does not comprehend
the nature Of an OATH"
81 Let us see," said the Judge "Come
here, my daughter" Assured by the kind
tone and manner of the Judge, the child step
ped toward him, and looked confdingly up in
his face, with calm clear eye, and in man.
ner so artless and frank that went straight to
the heart "Did you ever take an oath ?''
inquired the Judge. The little girl stepped
back with look of horror and the red blood
mantle in blush all over her face and neck
as she answered, "No, sir" She thought he
intender to inquire if she bad ever blasphem-
ed
IL do not mean that" said the Judge, who
saw her mistake, l mean were you ever a
witness before?" "No sir, never was in
court BEFORE" was the answer He handed
her the Bible open. "Do you know that
book, my daughter ?" She looked at it and
answered YES sir it is the Bible" "Do you
ever read it," he asked Eyes, sir, every eve.
ming" " Canyon tell ME what the Bible is?'
Inquired the Judge. 1t is the word of the
great God," she answered. "Well, place
your hand upon this Bible, and listen to what
I say" and he repeated slowly and solemn
the oath usually mincstered to witnesses
Now" said the Judge, "you have sworn as
witness, will you tell me what will befal
you if you do not tell the truth ~ 81 shall
be shut up in the State Prison." answered the
child. "Any thing else?" asked the Judge
I" l shall never 60 to heaven" she replied.
GLOW do you know this?" asked the
Judge again. The child took the Bible and
turning rapidly to the chapter containing the
Commandments, pointed to the injunction
" Thou shall not bear false witness against
thy neighbor." II learned that before
could read" "Has any one talked with you
about you being witness in court here
against this MANI" inquired the Judge. "Yes
sir" she replied, "my mother heard that they
wanted me to be witness, and last night she
called me to her room and asked me to tell
her the Ten Commandments, and then we
kneeled down together, and she prayed that
might understand how wicked it was to beal
false witness against my neighbor, and Goo
would he'll me, little child, to tell the truth
as it was before Him And when | came ur
here with father, she kissed me, and told me
to remember the ninth commandment anc
that God would hear every word said" "DC
you believe this ?" inquired the Judge. Yes
sir" said the child with voice and manner
that showed her conviction of its truth was
perfect. "God bless you, my child said the
Judge, "you have good mother This wit.
ness is competent" he continued. "Wer,
on trial for my life, and innocent of tn,
charge against me, 1 would pray God fol
such witnesses as this. Let her be ex
amined."
"She told her story with the simplicity o
a child, as she was, but there was direct
ness about it which carried conviction of it
truth to every heart. She was rigldly cross
examined. The COUNSEL piled her with infnit
and ingenious questioning, but she varie
from her first statement in nothing. The trut
as spoken by that little child was sublime
Falsehood and perjury had proceeded her ties
tamony. The prisoner had entrenched himscI
in lies, until he deemed himself impregnabIt
Witnesses had falsfed facts in his favor, an
viliany had manufactured for him a shal
defence. But before her testamony falsehoo
was scattered like chaff The little child, fo
whom a mother had prayed for strength to b
given her to speak the truth as it was befor
God, broke the cunning device Of mature
vilianny to pieces like potters vessel. TIL
strength that her mother prayed for was give
her, and the sublime and terrible simplcit
terrible mean to the prisoner and his asst
ciates) with which she spoke, was like revt
lation from God himself.-H. S. Hammond