The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1858-04-07
A Beautiful Narrative.
By s. II. HAMMOND.


I witnessed short time ago, in ons,of our
higher courts, beautiful illustration of the
simplicity and power Of truth. A little girl
nine wears of age was offered as a witness
against prisoner who was on trial for felo-
nv committed in her fathers house.
! Now, Emily said the counsel for the
prisoner, upon her being offered as witness,
I desire to know the nature of an oath?
4 don't know what you mean, was the
simple answer.
There, your Honor said the counsel, ad-
dressing the court, is anything further nsces-
sary to demonstrate the validity of my OBJ
lection? This witness should be rejected
She does not comprehend the nature Of au
OATH
Let us 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 confidingly upon
his face, with calm, clear eye, in manner
so artless and frank that it went straight to
the heart. Did you ever take an oath ! in
quired the Judge. The little girl stepped
with look of horror, and the red blood man
tied in blush all over her face and neck,
as she answered. ..-..r
No. SIR She thougt he intended to in
1uire if she ever blasphemed.
Il do not mean that said the Judge who
saw her mistake. 4 mean were you ever a
witness before
No, sir, was never in cou1t before, was
the answer.
lie handed her the Bible open. "Do you
lyrnvy thot hooly INV daurhtarin ~
She looked at it an answered: 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 y in
quired the Judge.
1T is the word Of the great God, she an
swered
well, place your hand upon this Bible,
and listen to what | have to say:' and he
repeated slowly and solemnly the oath usu-
ally administered to witnesses. 'Now, said
the Judge, you have been sworn as q witness;
will you tell me what will befa,l you if you
do not tell me the truth 2
4 shall be shut up in the State Prison.
answer ed the child.
Anything else ? asked the Judge.
I shall not 60 to heaven, she replied.
How do you know this 2 said the Judge
again. ...
The child took the Bible, and turning
rapidly to the chapter containing the Com
mandments, pointed to the injunction, Thou
shalt not bear false witness against thy neigh
bor' Il learned that she said, before
could read. .sa
Has any one talked to You about being
witness in court here against this man, in
quired the Judge.
'les, sir she replied. My mother heard
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 bear false witness against my neigh.
bor, and that God would help me, little
child, to tell the truth as it was before him.
And when came up here with father she
kissed me and told me to remember the
nineth commandment, and that God would
hear every word that said.'
DO you believe this 2 asked the Judge,
while .ear glistened in his eyes and his
lips qusered with emotion.
yes, SIR said the child with an air and
manner that showed her conviction of the
truth was perfect.
God bless you, my child said the Judge,
you ha:e a good mother. This witness is
competent he continued. 'Were l on trial
for my life, and innocent of the charge
against me, would pray God for such wit
nesses as this. Let~her be examined
Che foll har ctorv viii tbo e;p,,io;fr Of n
child, as she was, but there was directness
about it which carried conviction Of its truth
to every heart. She was rigidly cross-ex-
amined. The counsel piled her with infn-
ite and ingenious questionings, but she va
ried from her first statement in nothing. The
truth as SPOKEN by that little child, was sub
lime. Falsehood and perjury had preceded
her testimony. The prisoner had entrench-
ed himself in lies, until he deemed himself
impregnable. Witnesses had falsifed facts
in his favor, and villainy had manufactured
for him sham defence. But before her tes-
timony falsehood was scattered like chaff.-
The little child, for whom mother had
prayed for strength to be given her to speak
The truth as It was before God, broke the
cunning device of matured villainy to pieces
like potter's vessel. The strength that her
mother had prayed for was given her, and
the sublime and terrible simplicity (terriblo,
mean, to the prisoner and his perju,cd as
sociates,) with which she spoke, was Ike a
revelation from God himself
SUcKERs.-A witty clergyman had been
lectnring one evening in country village,
on the subject OF temperance, and, as usual,