THE WORK OF RELIGION

IN THE HEART OF A LITTLE CHILD

"I love them that love me; and those that seek me diligently shall find me."-Prov. viii., 17., R. V.

THE following remarkable circumstance was related to Ann Mifflin, wife of Warner Mifflin, by a person who attended the meetings of Friends, although not a member.

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Reading the life of Fenelon, one First-day morning, in my bed, two of my children being with me—a son of seven years old, and a daughter of four-I requested them to remain still while I read; and to induce them to be so, I proposed that they should think for half an hour and then tell me their thoughts.

"After a pause, my little son replied, It was impossible to tell his thoughts; they were the same that had been in his mind more than one year; and that they were so delightful, the more he thought, the more he wished to continue in that sweet meditation; and if all the world could get into the same feeling, it would be impossible for any to be damned.

"Being very much startled at such an unexpected reply from so young a child, I inquired of him if he could recollect the first time when he felt these serious

impressions. He said they came on by degrees, and from a desire to be good and serve God.

"I then asked him if he was willing to die and go to heaven. He said he had heaven already in his own heart, therefore he believed if he should be called from this world, his spirit would unite with God his Father. But he wanted to live to pray for others who were wicked; and that many times when he was alone he had burst into tears for the sins of the world, and had wished it were in his power to bring them into the same feeling as himself. He also said that he could not speak of these things to his companions at school, knowing he should be ridiculed; and also, that if I knew all he suffered in his mind among such a set of wicked boys, I should weep for him.

"I asked him what he meant?

"He said he grieved for them, lest they should continue hardened in wickedness; was sorry that they should offend so good a God, and was distressed for himself in struggling against the temptations before him, and was afraid he should do something wrong himself; but that these thoughts which were continually with him, were his comfort.

"I asked him if he knew from whence those thoughts proceeded?

"He said: "Yes, from God;' and added, it was God's Spirit in him; and that he sometimes enjoyed heaven without waiting for death."

After the child had left the room, the narrator continued: "My eldest daughter, aged twelve years, who was present, burst into tears and said: What but the Spirit of God could make a child like this speak in this manner?" "

Published by the Tract Association of Friends, No. 304 Arch Street, Philad'a.

THE POWER OF TRUTH.

THE following beautiful illustration of the simplicity and power of truth, is, with slight variations in the language, from the pen of S. H. Hammond, formerly editor of the Albany State Register. He was an eye witness of the scene in one of the higher Courts.

A little girl, nine years of age, was offered as a witness against a prisoner, who was on trial for a felony committed in her father's house. "Now Emily," said

the Counsel for the prisoner, upon her being offered as a witness, "I desire to know if you understand the nature of an oath."

"I don't know what you mean," was the simple reply. The Counsel then addressed the Court, asking, "Is anything further necessary to demonstrate the validity of my objection. This witness should be rejected; she does not apprehend the nature of an oath."

"Let us see," said the Judge; "come here my daughter."

Assured by the tone and manner of the Judge, the

child stepped towards him, and looked confidingly upon his face, with a calm, clear eye, and in a manner so artless and frank that it went straight to the heart.

"Did you ever take an oath ?" inquired the Judge.

The girl stepped back with a look of horror, and the red blood mantled in a blush all over her face and neck, as she answered that she had not. She thought he meant to inquire if she blasphemed.

"I do not mean that,” said the Judge, who saw her mistake, "I mean were you ever a witness before ?" The girl replied that she had never been in Court before.

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He handed her the open Bible, "Do you know that book my daughter?" She said it was the Bible. "Did you ever read it?" he asked. Yes, every morning." The Judge then inquired if she knew what the Bible is, and her answer showed that she recognized that it is of Divine inspiration.

He then placed her hand upon the Bible, and slowly and solemnly repeated the form of the oath administered to witnesses, which in the innocence of her heart she was thus made to take, without her attention having been called to the fact that our Saviour* and the Apostle James† have forbidden all swearing.

"Now," said the Judge, "you have sworn as a witwill you tell me what will befall you, if you do

ness,

*Matt. v. 34-35. "But I say unto you, Swear not at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; neither by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King."

†James, v. 12. "But above all things, my brethren, Swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath; but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation."

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not tell the truth?" "I shall be shut up in the State Prison," answered the child. Anything else?" asked the Judge. "I shall never go to Heaven," she replied. "How do you know this?" asked the Judge again. The child took the Bible, and turning rapidly to the chapter containing the ten commandments, pointed to the injunction: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor; "I learned that before I could read." "Has any one talked with you about your being a witness here in Court against this man?" inquired the Judge. "Yes," 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 commandments, and then we knelt down together, and she prayed that I might understand how wicked it is to bear false witness against my neighbor, and God would help me, a little child, to tell the truth as it was before Him. And when I came up here with father, she kissed me, and told me to remember the ninth commandment, and that God would hear every thing that I said.”

"Do you believe this?" asked the Judge, while a tear glistened in his eye, and his lips quivered with emotion. "Yes," said the child with a voice and manner that showed that her conviction of its truth was perfect.

"God bless you, my child," said the Judge, "you have a good mother. This witness is competent," he continued, "were I on trial for my life, and innocent of the charges against me, I would pray God for such a witness; let her be examined."

She told her story with the simplicity of a child, as she was, but there was a directness about it which car