The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-10-27
ale dNtekIp GIariDlr.
TRLFHH.


The following beautiful Illustration ofthe
.tmrlcity and power of truth. is from the
I'm of s. III. Hammond, formerly editor OF
~ "AIbany State Register He was an
eyewitness of the scene in one of the higher
eoarts
A little girl, nine years ofage. was offered
"a witness againsta prisoner VINO was on
rial for felony committed in her fathers
house.
,risoner. upon her being offered a wit
~. II desire to know If you understand
ne nature Of an oath 2"
II don't know what you mean,r was the
simple answer
addressing the court, "is anything further
necessary to demonstrate the validity Of
mn objection This witness should be re-
iected. She does not comprehend the nature
"A an OATH
@Ietus see, said the Judge Come here
nv daughter"
Assured by the kind tone and manner Of
he Judge, the child stepped toward him.
and looked confidingly up in his face, with
acam clear eye, and in manner so artless
ana frank that went straight To the heart.
bDid YOU ever take an oath ?" inquired
the Judge. The little girl stepped back with
: look Of horror, and the and blood mantled
IN blush all over her face as she answered.
~No. sir.f
She thought that he intended to inquire
;fshe had ever dasphened.
y do not mean that" said the Judge. who
saw her mistake, Il mean were you ever a
witness betore!
NO sir; never was in court before
was the answer.
10 handed her the Bible, open.
no Won know that book, my daughter 2"
She looked AT it answered, ''Yes sir, it is
s.Do You ever readit?'' he asked
ayes sir every evening"
.sCan you tel me what the Bible Is ~ in
quired the judge.
swered.
Well. place your hand upon this Bible
ard listen 10 what l say and he repeated
slowly and solemnly the oath usually ad-
ministered to witnesses.
Nov" said the Judge, ''You have sworn
asawtuess; will you tell me what will be-
I'M YOU ifyou do not tell the truth -
Il shall be shut up in the State prison."
answered the child.
.Anthing else? - asked the Judge.
Il shall never 20 to heaven" she replied
~How do you know this?' again asked
the Judge.
Tie child took the Bible, ana turning rap
ifiy TO the chapter contaiHg the Command
ments pointed to the Injunction, Thou
shall not bear false witness against thy
neighbour Fl learned that before | could
read
HAS any one talked with you about your
being witness in court here against this
man - INQUIRED the Judge.
-Yes. SIR" My mother heard they want
ell me to be a witness, and last night she
called me to her room aud asked me to tell
her the Ten Commandments, and then we
kneeed down together. and she prayed that
might understand how wicked it was to
bear false witness against my ueighbor, and
that God would help me, little child, to
teil the truth as it was before Him. And
L. Tel, 4. l..
me. and told me TO remember the ninth
commandment. and that God would hear
every word that said"
,Do YOU believe this p asked the Judge.
while a tear glistened in his eye, aud his lip
ouiyercl with emotion.
..Yes air" said the child. with a voice and
manner that showed her conviction of it's
truth was perfect.
@God bless YOU, my b.id.r said the Judge:
avon have a good mother. This witness is
Competent" he continued. 'Were l on trial
for NV life. and l. ocent of the charge
against me, would pray God for such wit
nesses as this. Let hersbe examined"
She told her story with the simplicity offs
child as she was; but there was directness
about it which carried conviction OF its
truth to every heart. She was rigidly cross
examined. The counsel piled her with in
finite and ingenious questioning, but she
varied from her first statement in nothing.
The truth as spoken by that little child was
sublime. Falsehood and perjury had pre-
coded her testimony. The prisoner had in |
trenehed himselfin lies. Witnesses had fall |
sifed facts in his favor, and viliany had man
ufactured for him a sham defence. But be-
fore her testimony it was all scattered like
chat. The little child for whom a mother
had prayed for strength TO be given her to
speak the truth as 1t was before God, broke |
the cunning devices OF matured villany to |
pieces like potter's vessel. The strength
that her mother Draved for was given her |
and the sublime and terrible simplicity--ter-
rible, mean, to the prisoner and his associ- |
ateswith which she spoke, was like a rev.
elatiOn from God hismelt.