Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-05-23
Truth.
A BEAUTIFUL ILLUSTRATION OF IT'S
POWER.

The following beautiful illustration of
the power Of truth, IS from the pen oil
S. II. Hammond, formerly editor OF
the Albaay State Register. lie was an
eye-Sitness of the scene 10 one Of the
highest courts OF New YORK.
A little girl, olne years OF age, was
offered as witness against 3 prisoner
who was on trial for felony commit
ted IN her lather'3 house.
Now, Emily said the counsel TOR
the prisoner, upon her being offered as
a witness, Il desire to know If you un-
derstand the nature OF an oath? p
Il don't know what you mean,' was
The simple answer.
There, your honor, said the counsel
the court. is anything
further necessary TO demonstrate the
validity of my objection ? This witness
should be ejected, Sle does not com =
prehcnd the nature Of an OATH
Let US see,' said the Judge. Come
here, my daughter
Assured by the kind tone and mau-
ner of the Judge, the child stepped
toward him, and looked confdingly up
into his face with a calm. clear eye,
and with manner so artless aud frank
that it went straight to the heart.
Did you ever take an oath?' in'
quired the judge. The little girl step.
ped back with a look OF horror, aad the
red blood mantled IN a blush all over
her face as she answered:
No. SIR
She thought that he intended TO IN
qured if she ever blasphemed.
1 do not mean that SAID the JUICE
who saw her mistake; L melr, were
you eyer witness beiore?'
No, [ meyer was IN court before,
was the answer.
He banded her the Bible, open.
DO YOU know that book, my daush'
ter:'
She looked al t and answered. Yes,
sir; it is the Bible
DO you eyerreai i,:' he asked.
Yes, sir; every evening"
Can you tell me what the Bible l'|
inquired the judge:
1t is the word of the great Gol,' she
answered.
well, place your hand upon this
Bible, and listen TO what L say;' aud
ne repeated slowly and solemuly the
oath usually administered to witness.
Now SAID the judge, you have
sworn as witness, will you tell me
what will befall you il you do not tel
The truth p
I shall be shut up in State Prison.
answered the child.
Anything else' asked the Judge.
4 shall never 90 to heaven she
replied.
How do you know this? p asked the
Indge again.
The child took the Bible and turn.
ing rapidly 10 the chapter containing
the commandments, pointed to the inc
junction, Thou shalt not bear false
witness against thy neighbOr.' 4
learned that before [ could read.
YES, SIR she replied. My mother
heard they wanted me 10 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. aud she prayed that |
might understand how wicked it was ID
bear false witness against my neighbor,
and that God would help me, a little
child, TO tell the truth as IL was before
Him. And when l 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 thls?' asked the Judge
while a tear glistened in his eye and
his lips quiyered With emolloa.
Yes, SIR said The child, with voice
and manner that showed her convic-
ton of the truth was perfect.
God bless you, my child, said the
Judge; you have good mother. This
witness Is competent be continued.
Were | on 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 ber story with the slmphcl-
ty Of a child, as she was, but there was
a drectness about it that carried con-
yiction of its truth to every heart. She
vas rigidly cross-examlned. The coun
sci plied her with indefinite and inge
nious questioning, but she varied from
her first statement 10 nothing. Th'
truth as spoken by that little child was
sublime. Falsehood and perjury ha'
proceeded her. The prisoner had en-
lrensned himself IN lies. Witnesses
talslfed facts 10 his favor aud vlllalnl
had Manufactured for HIM a sham de-
fepse. But before her testimony Il
was scattered like chat. The llttl'
child for whom the mother had prayed
for strength to'be given TO speak tn
rulh. as it was before God, broke th
GINNING dovises of mAtured yilliany l.k'
4 potter's vessel. The strength tha
her mother prayed for was given, AM
sublime and terrible simpllclty-terrisl
mean to the prisoner and his assocI'
ate-wilh which she spoke, was like
revelation from God himself.
A~
Ladies' Tonic"
The Great Female Remedy is pre-