The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-05-20
From Me LGiYs Homr Jf,tyaz;n
BEAUTIFUL NARRATIVE

simple, touching and beautiful narrative.
showing forth the power Of truth, than
this which follows. It is from the pen Of
>. ii. Hammond, the author Of "CvuntrY
Margins" and most pleasant aud genial
writer:
witnessed a short title ago, in on. of
our higher Courts ii beautiful illustration
Of the simplicity and power Of truth. A
little girl nine years vf age was offered as
a witness against prisoner who MAS on
trial for felony committed IN her fathers
house.
"Now, Emily" said tie counsel for tLe
prisoner, upon her being offered as wit
ness, " desire to know if you understand
the nature Of al, oath"
81 don't know wIat YOU mea: u.o
simple answer.
lh";", your lI.npr, said tr i
addressing tie Court. is any tl,ius further
nee s,ary to demonstrate the validity Of ,uy
objections This witness should he rejeci~
cd. she d"", Eoi comprehend tue ua,u,.
uf an patlI''
Let us see, said the Judge. "come
here my daughter" Assured Ly tl,. kind
tone and manner, Of the Judge, the child
stepped towards him, (and looked conliJ-
'ngy up i'll Ills face. with a calm. clear
eye} and in a manuer So artless and Fra,k
that 1t went straight to the heart. n1yid
you ever take ri oail, 2" inquired the JUDGE.
lie little girl Stepped lack with a look Of
horror, and the rcd blood ,na,tl.d i, =
blush all over her face aud neck. As 81. an.
swcred
No. SIR She thought he Intended 10
inquire If she had ever blaspl,emed.
~ do not mean ,lat, said tl,. Ju1y...
who saw her nni>t;'kr: :" 1 inr;.,l wei. you
ever witncss belore?"
& No sir, never was 81 Corr. 1.t.re.
was tie al,:wnr.
lie handed her Tie l'itle open. "ho
you know that l:o,k. my daughter :"
She looked al il and answered, - y es sir.
il is the Bible
10 you ever rcai il ~ he asked.
lcs, sir, every evening"
"can you tell me what tie ifi,le !. ~
inquired the tulsc.
sit is the word Of the great Gvd.- .he
answered.
Well, place your hand npou t.is Eilde,
and listen TO What say and he repe,r.d
slowly and svle,nny lie uartlr usual, nd
'ninistercd 70 witnesses.
Now said the Judge" rou I,are Le..n
sworn as wi,n"ss-wiiI ro,; tcl: me what
will bcfaII r"a i ecu do not tell n..
truth"
II shai! be shut ur IN the Stat. prison.
answered tho ,l,iId.
Anything e'sc," asked the !ud.e.
shall not 60 to f1=aren," Sd. replied
How do rou kno~ tasis 2" asked tive
Judge again.
The Child took tie I;ILle, aud turu,.,-
rapidly to the chapter containing ii. COM
mandnents, pointed to th. i,1unclou.-
Thou sl,alt nv Lear false ~itnss.
against thy p.isLbor:" II j-arn-d that"
she said, before eouId Leae."
"1Ias any uae talked to rou about b.in~
a witness IN Court here a.S,li.,.t fl,is ,uap ~
inquired li.. Judge.
Yes. sir, Ne s1siisd, Ny mvti,.r
heard ilrsy van,ci me- ~ Le witness, and
last nigh: She called me ~ her rvv,u aud
asked me 70 tai her the T.n epin,rs,,d.
rnehts, and ls'n re kneeI.d aosn together
and she prayed That .nigih understand
lio~ wicked j: mss TO beas Ldse nita,.ss
against my De1LLor aud d,st Gvd xeuld
help me, II fitie e,ild, 70 - die 1rud rs
it ras before linn. Aud ~a,su came up.
here viii, Father, she kissed tue, aud t.l5
me 10 resaenl.er the 9th e.,,n,uiaaud.nsn
and that God would hear esery xord fi.st
I s.iI''
DO you believe ihis Z" asked Ii. gud...
while tear s'ist.ned IN 1iis eyss and l,is
lirs 4uirered siL esnofisn.
"Yes, sir said tie eaidd. ~fd a s.,,os
and manner that shewsJ 1ar oossirtisu n
the truth ~as perfect
"God bless sou, any eadIa:" asia 9l.s
Judge, fon i,ase sood sseases. Tsais
witness is eomrAent," ," he oea6nasd ~ 1E.sss
I on trial for any life, aud iaaoeast sd IL,
charge against me. ] ~nsad fs.s God s.r
such witness NJ this. La Aar b. 4,zs,v-
| incl"
Sbs told Lsr story xiai 1,s sissr,isssy ~
clill. ss sbe ~as. bst Aksse Ss . aisss.-
ness about II ~i,ieh eas1ssa aoosisdau 46 ia
ts's.h 70 srers heart 4sise s.s Ssidy nsss
examined. Tie ouunssa sdisa asn ~:ifL ss-
finite and ingenious qsssaissiiess aaa ass
varied from bes fsa aa4essssa 10 assasiss.
Tho srssL rs TDlss ~ fasA fisis aaii!d
sas saiAisse. Fhssassoa asA sss5asy asaa
preceded hrs t<;imsscs. The ssisases
ksl isarancassd his.ssa6 10 In. ssaal IL
1eesz,sA i.isasssH isassseepsaaa a4fSs>~n>s.