Daily Republican., 1883-07-05
TRUTH.
A Beoatiful Illustration 81 Its
Power.

The following beautiful illustration
of the power of truth is from the pen
of s. II. Hammond, formerly editor OF
the Albany State Register. He was
an eye witness of the scene in one OF
the higher courts of New York:
A little girl, nine years of age, was
offered as witness against prisoner
who was on trial for felony committed
in her fathers house.
Now, Emily said the counsel for
the prisoner, upon her being offered as
witness, 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
addressing the court, is anything fur
ther necessary to demonstrate the
validity of myObjection? This witness
should be rejected. She does not com
prehend 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 stepped toward
him, and looked confdingly up into
his face with calm, clear eye and a
manner so ar less and frank that it
went straight to the heart.
did you ever take an oath = inquir-
ed the judge. The little girl stepped
back with look of horror, and the red
blood mantled in blush all over Der
face as she answered.:
mo, sir.
She thought that he intended to in
;f ba avnr hi I,unl,a,nal
l do not mean that, said the judge,
who saw her mistake II mean, We're
you ever witness Defore?'
mo, was never in court before,
was the answer.
He handed her the Bible, open.
Do you know that book, my daugh-
ter?'
She looked at it and answered.
Yes, sir it is the Bible
Do you ever read it?' he asked.
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.
We'll place your hand upon this BIZ
BILE, and listen to what / say ! and he
repeated slowly and solemnly the oath
usually administered to witnesses.
Now said the judge, you have
sworn as a witness, will you tell me
what will befall you If you do not tell
the truth p
i shall be shut up in State prison.
answered he child.
Anything else p asked the judge.
shall never 60 to heaven, she re-
piled.
How do you know this p asked the
judge again.
The child took the Bible and turning
rapidly to the chapter containing the
commandments, pointed to the iujunc-
ton, Thou shalt not bear false witness
against thy neighhor. learned that
before | could read
Has any one talked with you about
your being "a witness here against this
man p inquired the judge.
Yes, sir, she replied. My mother
heard they wanted me to be a witness,
and last night she called Inc to her
room and asked me to tell her the ten
commandments, and then we knelt
down together, and she prayed that
might understand how wicked it was
to bear false witness against my neigh
bor and that God would help me, lit
tie child, to tell the truth as it was be-
fore 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 fear Hlistened in his eye,
and his lips luivered with emotion.
eyes 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 good mother.
This witness is competent" hecontinu-
ed. "Were | on trial for my life and
innocent Of the charge against me,
would pray to God for such witnesses as
this. Let her BIZ examined"
She told her story with the simplicity
of child, as she was, but there was a
lirectness about it that carried convic-
ton of its truth to every heart. She
was rigldly cr0ss-examined. The.coun-
sci piled her with indefinite and ingen-
ious questions, but she varied from her
first statement nothing. The truth as
spoken by that little child was sublime.
Falsehood and perjury had preceded |
her. The prisoner had intrenched him
self in lies. Witnesses had falsitied |
facts in his favor, and vilianly had
for him sham defense.
But before her testimony it was sea ter
ed like chatf The little child, for
whom the mother had prayed for
strength to be given to speak the truth
as it was before God, broke the cum
ming devices Of matured villiany like
a pOtters vessel. The strength that
her mother prayed for was given, and