What is the Declamation piece entitled the guilty child?

Answer 1

She stood at the bar of Justice,

A creature, wan and wild,

In form too small for a woman,

In features too old for a child.

For a look so worn and pathetic

Was stamped on her pale young face,

It seemed long years of suffering

Must have left that silent trace.

"Your name," said the judge, as he eyed her

With a kindly look, yet keen.

Mary Aguirre, if you please, sir.""

"And your age?" "I am fifteen."

"Well, Mary," - and then from a paper

He slowly and gravely read -

"You are charged here - I am sorry to say it -

With stealing three loaves of bread.

"You took not like an old offender,

And I hope that you can show the charge to be false.

Now tell me, Are you guilty of this, or not?"

A passionate burst of weeping

Was at first her sole reply;

But she dried her tears in a moment,

And looked in the judge's eyes.

I will tell you just how it was, sir

My father and mother are dead,

And my little brothers and sisters were hungry

And asked me for bread.

At first, I earned it for them

By working hard all day.

But somehow the times were hard, sir, and the work all fell away.

I could get no more employment,

The weather was bitter cold;

The young ones cried and shivered

So what was I to do, sir?

I am guilty, but do not condemn;

I took - O! was it stealing? -

The bread to give to them.

Every man in the courtroom,

Graybeard and thoughless youth -

Knew, as he looked upon her,

That the prisoner spoke the truth,

Out from their pockets came kerchiefs,

Out from old, faded wallets

Treasures hoarded for years.

The judge's face was a study,

The strangest you ever saw,

As he cleared his throat and murmured

Something about the law.

For one so learned in such matters,

So wise in dealing with men

He seemed, on a simple question

Sorely puzzled just then.

No one blamed him, or wondered

When at last these words they heard

"The sentence of this young prisoner is for the present deferred."

And no one blamed him or wondered

When he went to her and smiled

And tenderly left from the courtroom

Himself, the "guilty" child!

(see link below)

Answer 2

"The Guilty Child" is a widely known declamation piece that tells the story of a child who is remorseful for disobeying their parents and causing them hurt. The piece emphasizes the importance of respecting and obeying one's parents.