Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-02-05
tHtscellaneous.



The following beautiful illustration of the
simplicity and the power of truth, is from the
pen Of S. II. Hammond. formerly editor of
the Albany State Register He was an eye
witness of the scene in one of the higher
courts
A little girl nine years Of age. was offered
as witness against prisoner who was on
trial for felony committed in her fathers
house.
Now. Emily" said the counsel for tho
prisoner, upon her being offered as a witness.
" desire TO know if you understand the ma
ture Of an oath p
Il don't know what you mean," was the
simple answer.
There your Honor" said the counsel, adj
dressing the Court, =" is anything further ne
cessary to demonstrate the validity of my OBJ
lection This witness should be rejected. 49,
She does not comprehend the nature of an
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 confdingly up in his face. with a calm,
clear eye, and in a manner so artless and frank
that went straight to the heart.
" Did you ever take an oath p inquired
the Judge. The little girl stepped back with
a look Of horror, and the red blood mantled
in blush all over her face and neck as she
answered
" No, sir"
She thought he intended to inquire If she
had ever blasphemed.
" ! do not mean that" said the Judge. who
saw her mistake, g mean were you ever a
witness before -
mo sir; | never was in court before"
was the answer
lie handed her the Bible open.
" Do you know that book, my daughteri"
She looked at it and answered. " Yes, sir.
it is the Bible
"Do you ever read :" he asked.
Yes, sir, every evening"
" Can you tell me what the Bible is :" in
quirod the Judge
" 1t is the word of the great God" she an
swered.
Well, place your hand upon this Bible,
and listen to what say; and he repeated
slowly and solemnly the oath usually admin
stered to witnesses.
Now" said the Judge "you have sworn
as a witness, will you tell me what will be-
fall you if you do not tell the truth :"
=" l shall be shut up in the State Prison"
answered the child.
Anything else :" asked the Judge
/" l shall never go to Heaven" she replied.
" How do you know this :" asked the
Judge again.
The child took the Bible, and turning rap
idly to the chapter containing the command
ments pointed to the Injunction, Thou shalt
not bear false witness against thy neighbor." ."
- I 4 a. L 4. I 4
" Has any one talked with you about your
being witness in court here against this
man :" inquired the Judge.
" Yes, sir she replied. "My mother
heard they wanted me to be a witness, and
last night she called me to her room and ask
ed me to tell her the Ten Commandments,
and then we kneelcd down together and she
prayed that might understand how wicked
it was to bear false witness against my neigh
Dor, 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 kis-
sed me and told me to remember the Ninth
Commandment and that God would hear ev-
cry word that said"
4" Do you believe this;" asked the Judge,
while tear glistened in his eye, and his lip
quivered with emotion.
eyes, sir" said the child, with voice and
manner that showed hgtbnviction of its truth
was perfect.
"God bless you, my child, said the Judge,
you have good mother. This witness is
competent, he continued. "Were | on tri-
al for my life, and innocent of the charge a
gainst me, would pray God for such witness
ses this. Let her be examined"
She told her story with the simplicity of
child, as she was, but there was drectness
about it which carried conviction of its truth
to every heart. She was rigidly cross-exam-
ined The counsel piled her with infinite and
ingenious questioning, but she varied from her
first statement in nothing. The truth as spo-
ken by that little child was sublime. False
hood and perjury had preceded her testimony.
The prisoner had intrenehed himself in lies,
till he deemed himself impregnable Wit
nesses had falsifed facts in his favor. and viii
lainy had manufactured for him sham de-
defense But before her testimony, falsehood
was scatterad like chaf. The little child for
whom a mother had prayed for strength to be
given her to speak the truth as it was before
God, broke the cunning devices of matured
villainy to pieces like potter's vessel. The
strength that her mother prayed for was Civ
en- her, and the sublime and terrible simplici-
ty-terrible | mean to the prisoner and his
associates-with which she spoke was like a
revelation from God himself.