Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1871-11-02
Truth.

of the simplicity and power OF truth,
is from the pen of S. H. Hammond
formerly editor of the Albany, New
York State Register. He was an eye
witness of the scene in one of the high
er courts:
A little girl, nine years of age, was
offered as witness against prisoner
who was on trial for felony, committed
on her fathers ouse.
"Now. Emily said the counsel for
the prisoner, VI on her being offered
as witness, Il desire to know if you
understand the nature of an oath z"
II don't know what you mean," was
the simple answer.
There, yoIr honor" said the coun-
sci, addressing the court, ''is anything
further necessary to demonstrate the
validity of my objection This wit
ness should be objected. She does
not understand the nature of an oath." !"
Let rae 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 looking con
tidingly in his face with a calm, clear
eye, and in a manner so artless and
frank, that it went clear to the heart
did you ever take an oath p in
quired the Judge The little girl STEP
ped back with look of horror, and
the red blood mantIed all over her
face and neck, as she answered.
''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. 81 mean were
you ever witness before p,
mo sir; ! never was in court be
fore" was the answer
He handed her The Bible open.
do you know that book, my daug
hter 2'
Sne looked at it and answered, Yes
sir; it is the Bible.''
''Can you tell me what the Bible is p
inquired the Judge
1T is the word of the great God,
she answered.
We'll, place your hand upon thi:
Bible, and listen to what / say" an(
lie repeated slowly and solemuly the
oath usually administered to witnesses
Now" said the Judge, ''you hav,
sworn as witness-will you tell nj
what will befall you if you do not tel
the truth ?''
Il shall be shut up in the Stat,
Prison. answered the child
Anything else ?" asked the Judge
i shall never go to heaven" sh
replied.
'How do you know this p askec
the Judge.
The child took the Bible, and turn
ing rapidly to the chapter containin;
the commandments, she pointed to th
injunction, Thou shalt not bear falls
witness against thy neighbor." g
learned that before / could read.
HAS any one talked to you abou
your being a witness in court her
against this man p
"Yes SIR she replied. "My mothe
heard they wanted me to be a witness
and last night she called me to tell he
the Ten COMMANDMENTS, and then W
f kneeled down together, and she praye
that | might understand how wicke
it was to bear false witness against m
! neighbor, and that God would help me
a little child, to tell the truth as it wa
before Him. And as I came up her
with father she kissed me and told m
TO remember the Eight Commandment
and that God would hear every wor
that said"
do you believe this ?" asked til
: Judge, while a tear glistened in his ey,
= and his lip quivered with emstion
v ''Yes, SIR" said the child, with
s voice and manner that showed her COZ
victiOnsof truth was perfect.
:, God bless you. my child said I'll
S Judge. You have good mother
D This witness is con petent." he contil
ued. Were I on trial for my life, an
r innocent of the charges against me,
e would pray God for such witness
this Let her DE examined,
IL She told her story with the simple
II ty "f child, as she was, but there W;
directness about it that carried col
n viction of its truth to the heart. 81
# was rigidly cross examined. The cou
y sci piled her with infinite and ingenio
W questioning, but she varied in her fir
It statement in nothing The truth :
spoken by that little child was su
N lime. Falsehoud an6 perjury had pl
at ceded her testimony. The prison
is had entrenched himself in lies till
le deemed himself impregnable.
le The strength that her mother pray
n. for was given her, and the sublime a
ii terrible srmplicity-terrible l mean
10 the prisoner and his associates-wi
It which she spoke, was like revelati
ed from God himself
be -SaS--------