r at most eight--years of age, without any kind of education,
was unable to state what the exact nature of an oath was.

Having failed in this, he was next asked what, when they died, became
of people who told lies.

"If he knows that, it's a good deal more than I do," said Maule.

"Attend to me," said the Crown counsel. "Do you know that it's wicked
to tell lies?"

"Yes, sir," the boy answered.

"I don't think," said the counsel for the prosecution, "it would be
safe to swear him, my lord; he does not seem to know anything about
religion at all.--You can stand down."

"Stop a minute, my boy," says Maule; "let me ask you a question or
two. You have been asked about a future state--at least I presume that
was at the bottom of the gentleman's question. I should like to know
what you have been taught to believe. What will become of _you_, my
little boy, when you die, if you are so wicked as to tell a lie?"

"_Hell fire_," answered the boy with great promptitude and boldness.

"Right," said Maule. "Now let us go a little further. Do you mean to
say, boy, that you would go to hell fire for telling _any_ lie?"

"_Hell fire_, sir," said the boy emphatically, as though it were
something to look forward to rather than shun.

"Take time, my boy," said Maule; "don't answer hurriedly; think it
over. Suppose, now, you were accused of stealing an apple; how would
that be in the next world, think you?"

"_Hell fire_, my lord!"

"Very good indeed. Now let us suppose that you were disobedient to
your parents, or to one of them; what would happen in that case?"

"_Hell fire_, my lord!"

"Exactly; very good indeed. Now let me take another instance, and
suppose that you were sent for the milk in the morning, and took _just
a little sip_ while you were carrying it home; how would that be as
regards your future state?"

"_Hell fire_!" repeated the boy.

Upon this Clark suggested that the lad's absolute ignorance of the
nature of an oath and Divine things rendered it imprudent to call him.

"I don't know about that," said Maule; "he seems to me to be very
sound, and most divines will tell you he is right."

"He does not seem to be competent," said the counsel.

"I beg your pardon," returned the judge, "I think he is a very good
little boy. He thinks that for every wilful fault he will go to hell
fire; and he is very likely while he believes that doctrine to be most
strict in his observance of truth. If you and I believe