Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-03-13
TRUTH.


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 wit
ness 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 the pris-
oner, upon her being offered as a witness, Il de-
sire to know if YOU understand the nature of
an oath :?
d don't know what you mean was the sim
pie answer.
There your Honor said the counsel, ad-
dressing the Court, is anything further neces-
sary to demonstrate the validity of my objec-
ton? This witness should be rejected. She
does not know the nature of an OATH
Let us see,' said the Judge, come here, my
daughter
Assured by the kind manner and tone of the
Judge, the child stepped forward toward him
and looked confdingly up in his face, with
calm eye and manner so artess and frank,
that it went strght to the heart.
Did you ever take an oath p inquired the
Judge. The little girl stepped back with a
ook of horror, and the red blood mantled in
a blush all over her face and neck as she an
swered-
NO, sir
She thought he intended to inquire if she
had ever blasphemed.
Il do not mean that, said the Judge, who
saw her mistake, i mean were you ever a wit
ness before?'
NO, sir, l never was in court before, was the
answer.
He handed her the Bible open.
vou Luo,v that bOo. my 1auuhtar o.
She looked at it and answered Yes, sir, it is
the Bible
DO you ever read it? he asked.
yes, sir, every evening"
Gan you tell me what the Bible is q inquired
Judge.
1T is the word of the great God, she answer
ed.
We'll, place your hand upon this Bible, and
listen to what | say and he repeated slowly
and solemnly the oath usually administered to
witnesses
witness, will you tell what will befal YOU if YOU
do not tell the truth?'
Il shall be shut up in the State Prison, an
swered the child.
Anything else :? asked the Judge
Il shall never go to Heaven, she replied.
How do you know this?' asked the Judge
again.
The child took the Bible, and turning rapid
! ly to the chapter containing the commandments
pointed to the injunction Thou shalt not bear
false witness against thy neeighbor,' Il learned
that before could read
Has any one talked to you about your being
witness in Court here against this man p in
quired the Judge
Yes, 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 hei
the ten commandments, and then we kneeled
down together and she prayed that | might un.
derstand how wicked it was to bear false wit
ness against my neighbor, and that God would
help me, little child, to tell the truth as it wal
before him. And when l came up here with
father, she kissed me and told me to remember
the ninth commandment, and that God woult
hear every word that | said
DO you believe thisp asked the Judge Will,
a tear glistened in his eye and his lip quiveret
with emotion.
Yes, sir said the child, with a voice ant
manner that showed her conviction of its trutl
was perfect.
God bless you, my child said the Judge yol
have good mother. This witness is compe
tent he continued. 'Were / on trial for IN,
lite, and innocent of the charge against me-
would pray God for such witnesses this
Let her be examined
!Sne told her story with the simplicity of
ehld, as she was, but there was drectnes
hoou' II that carried conviction of its truth t.
ale heart. she was rigdly cross examined
=, The counsel piled her with Infinite and ingeniou
questioning, hut she varied from her first state
ment IN nothing The truth as spoken by tina
5 little child was sublime. Falsehood and ner
jury had preceded her testimony, The prison
ed himself impregnable. Witnesses had C,Is;
9 fed facts in his favor, and villainy had mann
{ featured for him sha defence. But hetor
her testimony, falsehood was scattered In
a chat. The little child for whom mother Ina
prayed for strength to be given her to speak III
truth as it was before God broke the cunnin
devices of mutured vallainly to pieces like N
;. potter's vessel. The strength that her motht
e prayed for was given her, and the sublime an
d terrible simpcity-terrible / mean to III
I. prisoner and his associates-wilh which sh
spoke was like revelation from God himself.