Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-03-22
TRUTH.

"Now Emily said the counsel for
the prisoner, upon her being offered
as witness, l desire to know if you
understand the nature of an oath p
81 don't know what you mean"
was the simple answer.
There your Honor" said the coun-
sci, addressing the court, " is anything
further necessary to demonstrate the
validity of my objection! This witness
should be rejected. She does not
comprehend the nature of an OATH"
LET us see," said the Judge
"Comc here, my daughter"
Assured by the kind tone and man
ner of the Judge, the child stepped
toward him and looked contidingly up
in his face, with a calm clear eye, and
in manner so artless and frank that
went right straight to the heart.
Did you ever take an OATH" in
quircd the Judge.
The little girl stepped back with a
look of horror and the red blood man
tied in a blush all over her cheek and
face, as she answered. No, SIR
She thought he intended to ask if she
blasphemed.
II do not mean that" said the
Judge who saw her mistake. " mean
were you ever witness before"
He handed her the Bible open.-
Do you know that book my laugh
ter!'
She looked at it and answered, Yes
sir, it is the Bible"
"Do you ever read it." he asked.
Eyes, sir, every evening"
"Can you tell me what the Bible
is,' inquired the Judge.
I" 1t is the word OF the great God"
she answered.
Well, place your hand upon this
Bible and listen to what ! saw" and
he repeated slowly and solemnly the
oath usually administered to witnesses.
Now" said the Judge, you ha, e
been sworn as a witness, will you tell
me what will befall you if you do aot
tell the truth!'
81 shall be shut up in the States
Pr!sion," answered the child.
Anything else = asked the Judge.
shall never go to heaven" she
replied.
allow do you know this q asked
the Judge again.
The child took the Bible, and turn
ing rapidly to the chapter containing
the Commandments, pointed to the
INDUCTION. Thou shalt not bear false
witness against thy neighbor."
learned that she said, =" before
l could read"
has any one talked with you
about your being witness in court
here against this man = enquired the
Judge.
Yes, SIR she replied. "My moth
er heard they wanted me to be IA wit
ness, and last night she called me to
her room and asked me to tell her the
ten commandments. and then we
kneeled down together, and she pray
ed that l might understand how wick
ed it was to bear false witness against
thy neighbor, and that God would help
me, a little child, to tell the truth as it
was before him. And when | came
up here with father she kissed me, and
told me to remember the ninth COM
mandment, and that God would hear
every word said"
do you believe this y asked the
Judge while a tear glistencd in his eye
and his lip quivered with emotion.
Yes sir" said the child with a
voice and manner that showed her con-
viction Of the truth was perfect.
God bless you my child" said the
Judge, you have good mother
This witness is competent" he con-
tinued, land were on trial for nv life
and innocent Of the charge against
me, ! would pray to God for such wit
nesses as this. Let her be examined"
She told her story with the simplici-
ty Of q child, as she was, but there
was directness about it which car
rled conviction of its truth to every
heart: She was rigidly cross-cxamin-
ed. The counsel piled her with infin-
lie and ingenious questionings, but she
varied from her first statement in moth
ing. The truth as spoken nv that liz.
tie child was sublime. Falsehood and
perjury had preceded her testimony
The prisoner had entrenchad himself
in lies, until he deemed himself i'm
pregnable. Witnesses had falsif;ed
facts in his favor, and villainy had
manufactured for him a sham de.
fence. But before her testimony false
hood was scattered like chat. The
little child, for whom mother had
prayed for strength to be gwen her to
speak the truth as it was before God,
broke the cunning devices of matured
vlllainy to peices like potters vessel.
The strength that her mother prayed
for, was given her and the simplicity
I-terrible to the prisoner and his as
sociates--with which abe spoke, was
like revelation from God himself