Washington telegraph., 1858-03-03
Truth.


The following beautiful illustration Of
the simplicity aud the power Of truth, is
from the pen Of ;. II. Hammond, former
ly editor Of the Albany State Register.
lie was an eve witness Of the scene in one
Of the higher courts:
"A little Girl nine years Of age, was Of
iered as a witness a.-linst a prisoner who
was on trial for felony committed in her
fathers house.
'.NOw Emily" said tie counsel for the
prisoner, upon her being offered a. wit
ness. III desire 10 know if You understand
the nature Of an oath?"
Ill don { know what you mean, was the
simple answer.
There, YOUR Honor" said the counsel,
addressing Tie Court, '.is anything further
necessary to demonstrate the validity ofmy
objection! This witness should be reject
cd. She does not comprehend the nature
Of an oath"
LET Us Sec" said the Judge. ''Come
here, my daughter"
Assured BY the kind tone and manner
of the Judge, the child stepped toward
him, aud looked confidently up in his face.
with a calm clear eye, and in manner 30
arilcss and frank, that it went straight tO
the heart
..Did YOU e.cr take an oath ~ inquired
The Judge The little girl stepped back
with look Of horror. aud the red blood
mautled in 2 blush all over her face and
neck q she answered:
NO, sir"
She thought he intended to inquire If
she had ever blasphemed.
III do not mean that, said the Judge,
who saw her mistake, III mean were you
ever a witness before I'M
NO, sir; / never was in court before"
was the answer.
IIe handed her the Bible open.
"Do you know that book, my dau-h-
terz''
She looked at il and answered, "Yes, sir,
il j. the Bible"
..Do YOU ever read It =" he asked.
Eyes sir. every evening"
"Can YOU tell me what the Bible is
-inquircd the Judge.
'.It is the word of the great Cod she
answered.
"Wcll. place your hand upon this Bible.
ard listen ID what say;' and he repeated
slowly and 5Oiennly the oath usually ad
niini-icred 20 witnesses.
..Now," said the Judge, 'Iyou have sworn
y a witness, viii YOU tell nc what viii be-
f.ll You If yyu dO nUt tel the truth ?"
~ shall be -hutnp Ia STATE Prison. an
,wcrcd the child.
Anything ei-e HI asked thc Judge
slal! never gu to Heaven,' she re-
plisl
-IIow lo YOU know his ?" asked tie
Judge again.
The child to1k the Bible, aud turned
rapidly to the chapter containing the com
mandments, pointing to the injunction,
Thou shalt not bear false witness agains;
thy ncighbpr" II learned that before |
could read
HAS any one talked with you about
yoRr being . witness in court here against
this man I'm inquired the Judge.
YES, sir." she replied. MY mother
heard they wanted NE % be u witness, and
last iEht she called Inc 10 her room aud
asked me to tell her the Ten Command
maut-, and taen we kneeloi down tugeth-
er and she prayed that ! might understand
Low wicked it was to bear false witness
against my neighbor, and that God would
help me, a little child, ID tell tile truth as
il WIS before him And when | came up
here with father, he kissed me and told me
~ remember the Ninth Commandment.
and that God would hear every word tha.
| saii."
..Do YOU believe thisy' asked the Judge,
while a tear glistened in his eye, and his
lip quivered with emotion.
.lcs, III" said the child, with a voice
aud manner that slowed her conviction Of
il truth was perfect.
'God bless you, my child" said the
Judge, ''you have a good mother. This
witntss is competent" ho continued.
"Werc on trial for my life, and innocent
Of the charge, would pray God for such
witnesses as this. Let her be examiu-
ed"
She told her story with the simplicity
nf 4 child, as she was, but there was a d.
rectncss about it which carried conviction
Of it, truth to every heart She was rig
idly cruss-examined. The counsel Piled
with infinite and ingenious questioning,
but sLe varied from her first statement in
nothing. The truth as spoken by that
little child was sublime. Falsehood and
perjury had preceded her testimony. The
prisoner had intrcnched himself in lies,
till he deemed himself impregnable Wit
nesses had falsihed facts in liz favor, vii
iainy had manufactured for him sham
defence. But before her testimony, false
hood was scattered like chaf. The little
child for whom a mother had prayed for
strength to be given her to speak the truth
a. It was before God, broke the cunning
devices Of matured villaiuy to pieces like
a potter's vessel. The strength that her
mother prayed for was given her, and the
sublime aud terrible simplicity-terrible
| mean 70 the prisoner and his associates,
with which she spoke was Ike . revelation
from God himself