an oath. I once examined a little girl
upon a preliminary point of this kind, before she had arrived at that
period of mental acuteness which enables one to understand exactly the
meaning of the words uttered in the administration of the oath. The
child was called, and after allowing the form of "the evidence you
shall give," etc., and "kiss the book," to be gabbled over, I said,
before the Testament could reach the child's lips,--

"Stop! Do you understand what that gentleman has been saying?"

"No, sir."

I think it is a great farce to let little children be sworn who cannot
be expected to understand even the language in which the oath is
administered, to say nothing of the oath itself. How can they
comprehend the meaning of the phrases employed? And many grown-up
uneducated people are in the same situation. Surely a simple form,
such as, "_You swear to God to speak the truth_"--or, even better
still, to make false evidence punishable without any oath at
all--would be far better.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

JACK.

I was always fond of dogs, and never cease to admire their
intelligence and sagacity.

My little Jack was given to me when quite a puppy by my old and very
dear friend Lord Falmouth. He was brought to me by Lady Falmouth, and
from that time his history was my history, for his companionship was
constant and faithful; in my hours of labour and of pleasure he was
always with me, and I believe, if I had had any sorrows, he would have
shared them as he did my pleasures--nay, these he enhanced more than I
can tell.

Of course he invariably came circuit, and sat with me in my lodgings
and on the Bench, where he would patiently remain till the time came
to close my notebook for the day. Whether he liked it or not I am
unable to say, but he seemed to take an interest in the proceedings.
About this, however, his reminiscences will speak for themselves. He
always occupied the seat of honour in the Sheriff's carriage, and
walked to it with a dignity worthy the occasion. I am glad to say the
Judges all loved Jack, and treated him most kindly, not for my sake,
but, I believe, for his own--although, I may add in passing, he
sometimes gave them a pretty loud rebuke if they showed any approach
to ill-humour on an occasional want of punctuality in coming into
court. Some of them were exceedingly particular in being up to time to
a _moment_; and I should have equal to the occasion at all times, but
that I had to give