The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1883-06-21

A Beautiful Illustration Of It's
Power.

the pen OF ,. III. Hammond, formerly
editor Of the Albany State Register
He was an eyewitness OF The scene
I'm one Of the higher courts Of New
I York.
A little girl, nine years OF age
was offered as witness against pris
oner, who was on trial for felony
committed In her fathers house.
Now, Emily" sand the counsel
for the prisoner, upon her being Of
fered as witness, II desire 10 know
4 If you understand the nature Of an
oath?'
Il don't know what you NEAR, 7
was the simple answer.
There, your honor said the
counsel, addressing the court, ''Is
anything further necessary to dem
onstrate the validity of my objection
This witness should be rejected.
She does not comprehend the nature
of an oath"
"Let us see" said the Judge.
Come here, my daughter"
Assured By the kind tone and
manner of the Judge, the child step
ped toward him, and looked confid-
ingly up into his face with calm,
clear eye, and with manner so art
less and frank that it went straight
to the heart.
"Did you ever take an oathF' in
quired the Judge. The little girl
stepped back with look Of horror,
and the red blood mantied in a blush
all over her face as she answered:
mo, sir"
She thought that he intended to
inquire if she ever blasphemed.
II do not mean that, said the
judge, who saw her mistake, Il
mean, were you ever a witness be-
foreTr
mo, never was in court before"
was the answer.
He handed her the Bible, open.
"Do you know that book, my
daughterY
She looked at 1T and answered,
Eyes, SIR it is the Bible"
"Do you ever read itg' he asked.
Yes, sir; every evening"
"Can you tell me what the Bible
isY inquired the judge.
'1t is the word of the great God, !"
she answered.
swell, place your hand upon this
Bible, and listen TO what / say"
and repeated slowly and solmnly the
oath usually administered to wit
nesses.
"Nox," said the judge. 'you have
sworn as witness, will sou tell me
what Will befall you if you do not
tell the TRUTH"
II shall be shut up in State pris-
on answered the child.
Anything else?7 asked the judge.
81 shall never go to heaven" she
replied.
GLOW do you know thisY' asked
the judge again.
The child took the Bible and
turning rapidly to the chapter con-
tang the commandments, pointed to
the Injunction, Thou shalt not bear
false witness against thy neighbor.'
II learned that before / could read
HAS anyone talked with you
about your being a'witness here
against this MANI inquired the
Judge.
Eyes, 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
her the ten commandments, and
then we kneeled down together, and
she prayed that / might understand
bow 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 was before Him.
And when ! came up here with
father, she kissed me, and told me
to remember the ninth command
ment, and that God would hear CIV.
cry word that said.
'Do YOU believe this?" asked the
judge, while tear glistened in his
eye and his lips quivered with emo
ton.
"Yes, sir" said the child, with a
voice and manner that showed her
conviction of the truth was perfect.
"God bless you, my child" said
the Judge; "you have q good mother.
This witness is competent" he con
tinued. "Were Lon trial for my
life and innocent of the charge
against me, would pray to God for
such witnesses as this. Let her be
examined"
She told her story with the SIM
piicity Of child, as she was, but
there was directness about it that
carried conviction Of its truth to ev-
cry heart. She was rigidly crossex
amined. The council piled her with
indefinite and ingenious question.
ing, but she varied from her first
statement in nothing. The truth as
spoken By that little child was sub.
lime. Falseheod and perjuty had
proceeded her The prisoner had
entrenehcd himself in lies. Wit
nesses had falsiled facts in his favor,
aud yiilainy had manufactured for
him q sham defense. But before her
testimony il WAS scattered like chat.
The little child for whom the mother
hal f.to.taI lrr -, a,ryft - hn ,tt,sor