Smyrna times., 1869-11-17
MiSceIIUme eOuS.
A Child in Court.


The following beautiful illustration of the |
simplicity and power of truth is from the pen of
>. ID. Hammond, formerly editor of the Alba |
ny State Register. He was an eyewitness 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 witness, 81
desire to know if you understand the nature of
an oath.
81 don't know what you mean," was the
simple answer.
'There, your honor" said the counsel. ad
dressing the court is any thing further neces-
sary to demonstrate the validity of my obiectionP
This witness should be rejected She does not
comprehend the nature of an oath"
my daughter"
Assured by the kind tone and manner of the
judge, the child stepped toward him, and look
ed confidently up in his face, with calm, clear
eye and in manner so artless and frank that
it went straight to the heart.
" Did you ever take an oath ?" inquired the
judge. The little girl stepped back with look
of horror, and the red blood manted in blush
all over her face and neck as she answered.
No, SIR"
She thought he intended to inquire if she
u.
| 81 do not mean that" said the Judge, who
saw her mistake. Il mean were you ever
witness before p.
No, sir, never was in court before" was
the answer
He handed her an open Bible.
Do you know that book, my daughter?"
She looked at it and answered, ''Yes, sir,
it is the Bible.
| "Do you ever read it?'' he asked.
| Yes sir, every evening"
"Can you tell me what the Bible is?'' in-
quired the judge.
1t is the word of the Great God," she an
swered.
"Wel place your hand upon this Bible and
listen to what | say" and he repeated slowly
and solcmnly the oath usually administered to
witnesses.
"Now," said the judge, "you have sworn
as witness, will you tell me what will befall
you if you do not tell the truth p
=" | shall be shut up in the State prison" p"
answered the child.
" Anything else" asked the Judge.
shall never go to heaven" she replied.
/" How do you know this p asked the judge
, again.
The child took the Bible and turning rapidly
to the chapter containing the commandments
pointed to the injunction thou shalt not beal
) false witness against thy neighbor.
Il l.
Has any one talked with you about you
being witness in the court here against thi
man?' inquired the judge.
Yes sir, !" she replied My mother hearC
|, they wanted me to be witness, and last nigh
she called me to tell her the ten command
ments, and then we kneeled down together an
she prayed that might understand how wick
ed it was to bear false witness against my neigh
= bor, and that God would hel p me, little child
| TO tall ho "a hafor An
when came up here with my father, she kis
o ed me and told me to remember the ninth CON
mandment, and that God would bear ever
word that said.
"Do you believe this?' asked the judg'
a while tear glistened in his eye and his lii
quivered with emotion.
g Yes, sir, said the child, with voice an
. manner that showed her conviction of truth WI
y. perfect ~. s.sz ,,,,.,., -,
+ "you have good mother. This witness
competent" he continued. "Were / on tri
for my life, and innocent of the charge again
me, would pray to God for such witnesses
this. Let her be examined.
She told her story with the simplicity of
child, as she was, but there was a directne
about it which carried conviction to every hea
She was rigidly cross-examined. The couni
piled her with infinite and ingenious question
but she varied from her first statement in not
ing. The truth as spoken by the child "
e sublime FaIsehood and perjury had prect
A' ed her testimony. The prisoner had intrenC
= ed himself in lies until he deemed himself i
pregnable, Witnesses had falsi6ed facts in
'ou favor, and villainy had manufactured him
|, sham defense. But before her testimony fal
:, hoods were scattered like chaff The Lit
and child, for whom mother had prayed
,ut. strength to be given her to speak the truth
9th it was before God, broke the cunning devil
lbs, of matured villainy to. pieces like a potte
der vessel. The strength that her mother b
prayed for was given her, and the sublime q
/, terrible simplicity, mean to
yer prisoner and his associates,-which she spo
zen, was like revelation from God himself.