Freeman's champion., 1858-04-01
MiscciIaQcOQsir.
Truth.

truth, is from the pen of S. H. Ham
mond. formerly editor Of the ALBANY
State Register, He was an eye wit
ness of this scene in one of the higl
courts: . '''''7''
A little girl, nine years ofage, wa,
offered as awitness against a prison
er who was on trial for a felony com.
mitted in her fathers house. .,. ,,s
Nov, Emily" said the counsel
Of the prisoner, upon her being offered
as a witness, II desire to know II
you understand the nature of an oath%'
IL don't know what you mesn,''
was the simple answer, .,s
"Tbere, your Honor" said the
counsel, addressing the court, ais
anything further necessary to demon
strate the validity OF my assertion ?
This witness should be rejected
She does not comprehend the natur.
Of an oath" va
Let me see," said the Judge
"Come here my daughters"il ~
Assured by the kind tone and man
ner of the Judge, the child stepped
toward him, and looked confdingly
up in his face, with calm, clear eye,
and in manner so artless and frank,
that went straight to tho heart. anaI
"Did you ever take an oath ?" IN
quired the Judge. The little girl
stepped back with look of horror,
and the red blood mantled in q blush
all over her face and neck as she an
swered
"No, SIR" tf1
She thought he intended to inquire
if she had ever blasphemed. b. pl 's
.r"l do not mean that" said the
Judge, who saw her mistake, al mean
were you ever a witness before ?"
"No, sir; | vas never in court be-
FORE" was the answer. +" oo'.r'.
He handed her the Bible, open.
"Do you know that book, my
daughter ?"
She looked at it and answered,
eyes, sir, it is the Bible" N'.
"Do you ever read it ?" he asked.
eyes, sir, every evening" ,
"Can you tell me what the Bible
is ?" inquired the Judge. .....,
ut is the word Of the great Cod"
she answered. h ''' .'''. 0. .'N"'
"Well, place your hand upon this
Bible, and listen to what say ;''and
he repeated slowly and solemnly the
oath usually administered to wit
nesses.
"Now," SAID the Judge, "you have
sworn as a witness will you tell me
what will befall you ifyou do not tell
the truth ?" n I......,
Y" should be shut up in the State
Prison." answered the child.
'"Anything else?" asked the Judge.
II shall never go to Heaven" she
replied. .,,.-o r.,.,..v
"How do you know this ?" asked
the Judge again.
The child took the Bible, and turn
ing rapidly to the chapter containing
the commandments, pointed to the
injunction, "Thou shat not bear false
witness against thy neighbor." III
learned that before could read"
HaS any one talked with you
about your being witness in court
here against this man ?" inquired
the Judgr snntpeifa. aI,r.
""YeS, SIR" she replied, my
mother heard they wanted me to be q
witness, and last night she called me
to her room and asked mo 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 neighbor, and that @ ID
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 tod mo to remember
the ninth commandment, and that
God would hear every word that !
said" u 7oesljo ,Gl "a Vida I
DO you believethis a. asked the
Judge while q tear gliSteued in his
eye, and his lip quivered with emo
ton. '"@ 'W"'''N"' '"' 'f
q a"Ycs, sir,'"said the child, with q
voice and manner that showed her
conviction Of its truth was perfect.
God bless You, my child" yaid
the Judge, i" you have sgood mother.
This witness is competent" he con
tinuod.t "Were i ON trial for my
life, and innocent Of the charge
against me, 4 would pray God Tor
such witnesses as this. Let her be
examined" ~" ~ '''4''' ''''
n She told her story withtths sim.
'plicity Of child. as she ,wass but
there was . dirsctuees aboutitw which
carried conviction Of ia truth 70 sy-.