The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1858-01-26
Truth.

witnessed a short tine ago, in ono ofonr
higher courts, beautiful illustration oftlic
simplicity and power Of Truth. A little girl
nine years oil age, was offered as a witness
againsti a prisoner who was tried for felony
committed in her fathers house Nov,
Emily, said the counsel for the prisoner, up
on her being offered as witness, 4 desire &c
know if you understand the nature of an
oath p .5- a.sr IA ~
4 don't know what you mean,' was the
simple answer.
There. your Honor, said the counsel, ad
dressing the court, lie anything farther ne
cessary to demonstrate the validity Of my
objection? This witness should be rejected
She does not comprehend the nature ofar
oath 1'ie
Let us see, said the judge; come here
my daughter" .sft7- az
Assured by the kind tone and manner Of
the judge, the child stepped towards HIM
and looked confdingly up in his face with q
calm clear eye, and in manner SO artless
and frank that it went straight to the heart
"Did you ever take an oath r inquired the
Judge. 80 %
The little girl stepped back with look oil
horror, and the red blood mantled in blush
ell over her face and neck as she answered,
mo SIR She thought he intended to inquire
if she had ever blasphemed. tassrs sssts
i do not mean that, said the Judge who
saw her mistake. mean were you ever a
witness before
No, sir, never was in court BEFORE was
the answer He handed her the bible open.
DO you know that book my daughter
She looked at it aud answered, Yes sir, il
is the Bible
DO you ever read lit asked the judge
Yes sir, every evening" if. sssli i
Can you tell me what tine Bible is ? inquir.
ed the judge s-s,s ..-~.-x
1t is the word of the great God,' she an
swered. 80 III
well, place your hand upon this Bible,
slowly and soemnly the oath usually, admin.
istered to witnesses. Now, said the Judge,
you have been sworn as witness, will you
tell me what will befall you if you do not
tell the truth 2 r. sTrE-sgg@ =, -
4 shall be shut up in the state prison, an.
swered the child. $3.50.
Anything else z asked the judge ''t
Il shall ne YER 20 to heaven, she replied.
How do you know asked thejudge5 a
gain The child took the Bible and turning
rapidly to the chapter containing the Com
mandlnents. p,intingto the injunction, Thou
shalt not bear false witness against thy
neighbor.' \ learned that, she said, before
could read sasss5s q ,s ~ =. + -.
Has any one talked with you about your
being witness in court here against this
mart inquired the Judge. aass lazs s4s
| = Yes, sir, she replied My mother heard
they wanted me to bsa witness, and last
hight she called me to her room and asked
me to toll her the ten commandments, md
then We knceled down together, and abe
prayed that might underatand how wicked
il was to bear false witness against my
neighbor, and that God would help me lit
tie child to tell the truth as it WINS before
him. And when came up here with lath-
er, she kissed me, and told me to remsnlber
the ninth commandment, and that God would
hear every word said asaaQ
DO you believe thisT asked the Judge
while = tear yiistened in his eye and his hips
auiyered with emotion . \ $ a.
q YES, sir, said fhs child, With yoics and
manner that showed her conviction O. il
God bless yon my child,' said the judge,
.you have good mother. This witness b
competsnt.' be continued Were onFiAl
for my ife and innocent Of the charge q
gaintt me !; l would pray God for such wit.
nesses as this. Let her b examined. ~ i
I the told her story with tho simplicity ofs
phiN, % she was, but thcrc was direCtuess
aboat it which carried conviction of III truth
70 every heart She wps figidly croas axans
ined. The counsel piled her With inflnitsl
end iDgenious questioning bat she Varied
from her frat statement IN nolhing The