The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1858-03-05
The Power of Truth.
LITTLE EMILY's TESTIMONY.


which follows. 1t is from the pen of ).
ii. Hammond, the author Of . Country
Margins, and most pleasant and genial
writer:
l witnessed, some time ago, in one OF
our higher courts, beautiful illustration OF
the simplicity and power of truth \ lit
tie girl nine years of age was offered as &
witness against prisoner who was on tri-
al for felony committed at her father S
house.
" Now, Emily said tho counsel for the
prisoner, upon her being offered as a wit
ness, q desire to know if you understand
the nature Of an oath"
&" don't know what you mean, was the
simple answer.
There, your honor said the counsel,
addressing the court, " is anything fur
I ther necessary to demonstrate the validity
Of my objection? This witness should be
rejected. She does not comprehend the
nature Of an oath. ="
"Let me see" said the Judge. "Come
here my daughter
Assured by the kind tone and manner
Of the judge the child stepped toward
him, and looked confdingly in his face,
with calm, clear eye, and in manner so
artle,- and frank that it went straight to
the heart.
Did you ever take an oath p inquir-
ed the Judge.
The lille girl stepped back with look
Of horror, and The red blood mantled in a
blush all over her face and neck, Us she
answered, NO sir. She thought he in
tended to inquire if she ever blasphemed.
L do not mean that, said the Judge,
who saw her mistake, " mean were you
ever a witness before"
No sir, never was in court before,
was the answer.
lie landed her the Bible open. " Do
You know that book, my dauehtor?'
Yes, sir, it is the Bible
"Do you ever read it ~ he asked.
"Yes, sir, every evening""
"Can you tell me what the Bible is -
-;;r-, t--;as-!-,i.~ juss,o. - = s.s>.-------
I" 1t is the work of the great God" sx
answered.
"Well, place your hand upon the B-
bic, and listen to what / say" and he re-
pcatcd slowly and soicmnly the oath usu-
ally administered to witnesses. " Now"
said the Judge, iou have been sworn as
a witness; will you tell me what viii be-
Gail you ifyou Do not tell the truth ?"
Z" shall be shut up in the State Pris-
on, answered the child.
Anything else z" asked the iadge.
" l shall not go to heaven" she replied.
&" How DO you know this" askc the
Judge again The child took the Bible
and turning rapidly to the chapter con-
tanning the commandments, pointed TO the
iuiunctiou. Thou shalt not bear false
witness against thy ncigbbor." 81 learn
Cd that, she said, before could read"
" IIar any one talked to you about be-
ing witness in court here egainst this
man ~ inquired the Judge
" Yes, sir, she replied. "My mother
heard they wanted me to be a wirne,s,
and last night she called me to her room
and asked me t. tell her the ten COM
mandmcnt3, and then we knelt down to-
ge,hcr ard she prayed that | might un-
dcrstaud how wicked it was to bear false
witness against my ncighbor, and that
God would bclp me, little child, to tell
the truth as it was before him. And
whom ! came up here with father, she kiss
ed me, and told me to remember the ninth
commandment and that God would hear
every word that | said"
"Do you believe this ?" asked the
Judge, while n tear glistened in his eye
and his lips quiyered with emotion.
Yes, sir, /" said the child, with a voice
and manner that showed her conviction Of
the truth wa, perfect.
" God bless you, my child" said the
Judge, "you have a good mother. This
witness is competent" he continued
We're | on trial for my life, and Innocent
OF the charge against NE, | would pray
God for such witnesses as this. Let her
be examined"
She told her story with the simplicity
Of child, as she was, but there was q di- /.
rectnoss about it which carried conviction
OF rs truth to every heart. She was rig
idly cross examined. The counsel piled /
her with infinite and ingenious question
ings, but she varied from her fIst state
ment in nothing. The truth, as spoken /
By that little child, was sublime. False (
hood aud perjury had preceded her tosti-
mony. The prisoner had entrenched him
self IN lies, until he deemed himself I'M
pregnable. Witnesses had falsifed facts
in his favor, and villainly had manufac-
.ured for him sham defense, but before
her testimony, flsehood scattered like
,haif. The little child, for whom moth
'r had prayed for strength to speak the
ruth as il was before Gcd, broke the cum
ling device of matured villainy TO pieces
ike a pottcr's vessel The strength that
ler mother prayed for was given her, and
he sublime and terrible simplicity Ctcrri-
Die | mean to the prisoner and his pcriur-
d associatcs,) with which she spoke was
Ike areyel6tion from God himself