The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1883-11-13
TRsj'rH.


the power of truth, is from the pen Of :
II. Hammond, formerly editor of the AL
bany State Register. He was an eye
witness to the scene in one of the higher
courts of New York
\ girl nine years OF age, was offered
as witness against prisoner who was
on trial for felony committed in her faith
er's house
Now, Emily said the counsel for the
prisoner, when she was offered as witness,
'Hdesire to know if You understand the ma
ture Of an oath Z"
81 don't know what you mean was
the simple answer.
"There your honor" said the counsel
addressing the court, els anything further
necessary to demonstrate the validity of
my objection This witness should be
rejected. She does not comprehend the
nature of an oath 2"
Lets see,' said the Judge "Come
here my daughter
Assured by the kind tone and manner of
the Judge, the child stepped toward him.
and looked 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
mantled in a blush all over her face as
she answered:
" No sir.
She thought that he intended to inquire
if she ever blasphcmed
81 do not mean that" said the Judge,
who saw her mistake; : | mean were yon
ever q witness before:
"No, | was never III court before,
was the answer
He handed her the Bible, open, and
asked:
"Do You know that book my daugh
ter?"
She looked at 1t and answered, eyes air,
it is the Bible
"Do you ever read 2" he asked
g Yes sir, every evening"
Can you tell me what the Bible is : !"
inquired the Judge.
" 1t is the word of the great God,' she
answered.
"Well, place your hand upon this Bible
and listen to what say, and he repeated
slowly and solemnly the oath usually ad
ministered 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 ="
81 shall be shut up in the State prison -
answered the child.
=" Anything else" asked the jndge
" / shall never 90 to heaven" she re-
piled.
" How do YOU know this - asked the
Judge again.
The child took the Bible, and, turning
rapidly to the chapter containing the
commandments, pointed to the lnjunc-
ton, "Thou shall not bear false witness
against thy neighbor." 81 learned that
before | could read
Has any one talked to you about be-
ing witness III court here against this
man? :" inquired the Judge.
Yes, sir" she replied, "my mother
heard they wanted me to be a witness,
and last night she called me to her room
and asked me to tell her the ten com
mandments, and then we kneeled down
together, and she prayed that might un-
derstand how wicked it was to bear false
witness against thy neighbor, and that
God would help me, little child, to tell
the truth as it was before Him. And when
| came up here with father, she kissed
me, and told me to remember the ninth
commandment, and that God would hear
every word that | said"
''Do you believe this?" asked the Judge,
while tear glistened in his eve, and his
lips quivered with emotion.
Yca, sir" said the child, with a voice
and manner that showed her conviction
OF its truth was perfect.
God bless you my child,' said the
Judge; "you have a good mother.