The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-09-26
Truth,
a uEAUTlruL ILLUSTRATION OF ITS row

A uEAUTlfuL ILLUSTRATION OF ITS row
ER.
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 to 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 commit
ted 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 ?"
81 don't know what you mean,' was
the simple answer.
'There, your honor" said the coun-
sci, addressing the court, is anything
further necessary to demonstrate the
validity of my objection This wit
ness 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 man
ner of the Judge, the child stepped to-
ward him, and looked confidingly 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 E? in
quired the judge. The child stepped
back with a 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 in-
quire if she ever blasphemed.
81 don't mean that said the
judge, who saw her mistake Il mean,
we're you ever q witness before ?"
"No, | never was in court before
was the answer.
He handed her the bible open.
"Do you know that book, my daugh-
ter p
She looked at it and answered, "Yes,
sir, it is the Bible.
"Do you ever read it p he asked.
Eyes, sir, every evening"
"Can you tell me what the Bible is?"
inquired the judge.
at is the word of the great God"
she answered.
"Well, place your and upon this
Bible, aud listen 10 what / say :" and
he repeated slowly and solemnly the
oath usually administered to witness
es.
"Now," said the judge you have
sworn as witness, will you tell Inc
what will befall you if you do not tell
the truth p
81 shall be shut up IN State prison."
answered the child.
Anything else ?" asked the Judge.
81 shall never go to heaven she re-
piled.
"How do you know this ?" asked the
judge again.
The child took the Bible and turn
ing rapidly to the chapter containing
the commandments, pointed to the in
junction, "Thou shalt not bear false
witness against thy neighbor' l learn.
"Has any one talked with you about
your being witness here against this
man p inquired the Judge.
"Yes, 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 l
might understand how wicked it was
to bear false witness 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
commandment, and that God would
hear every word that l said"
"Do you believe this ?" asked the
judge, while tear glistened in his eye
and his lips quivered with emotion.
"Yes, sir" said the child, with a
voice and manner that showed her con-
viction of the truth was perfect.
"God bless you, my child" said the
judge "you have good mother. This
witness is competent" he confined.
"Were on trial for my life and inno-
cent Of the charge against me, would
pray to God for such witnesses. Let
her be examined"
She told her whole story with the
simplicity of a child, as she was, but
there was directness about it that
carried conviction of its truth to every
heart. She was rigidly examined.
The counsel piled her with indefinite
and ingenious questioning, but she va
ried from her first statement in moth
ing. The truth as spoken by that lit
tie child was sublime. Falsehood and
perjury preceded her The prisoner
had entrenched himself in lies. Wit
nesses had falsilied facts in his favor,
and villainy had manufactured for him
a sham defense. But before her testi-
mony it was scattered like chaff. 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 cunning devices of matured
yillainy like potters vessel. The
strength that her mother prayed for
was given, and sublime and terrible
simpiclty-terrible, l mean to the
prisoner and his assocate-with which
she spoke, was like revelation from
"a l...aIc