Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-03-02
= R o T Il.

The following beautiful illustration Of the
simplicity and the power Of truth, Is from the
,en OF s. H. Raymond, formerly editor Of the
Albany State Register He was an eye witness
ii the scene in of the higher courts
4 little girl nine years old was r-t
witness against q prisoner who yEs .t. s.r
feIonr committed in her fathers J.
Now Emily said the counsel IL ...a urs.-
oner. upon her being offered a w.tl,s- a"
desire to know if you understand the nature
An oath
Il don't know what you mean" was the SIM
There your Honor" said the counsel, adj
dressing the Court, Is anything further neccs-
gary to demonstrate the validity Of my ohlec-
lion This witness should be rejected. She
does not comprehend the nature OF an oath"
" Let Us see, said the Judge. Come here
my daughter
Judge the child stepped toward him, and look
ed conidingly up in his face with a calm clear
eye and in manner 80 artless and frank, that
went straight TO the heart.
Did YOU ever take oath e inquired the
Judge. The little girl stepped back with a
look of horror and the red blood mantled in
blush all over her face and neck a she answer
Ell:
"No sir"
She thought he intended to enquire if she had
arer blasphemed.
~ do lot mean that" said the Judge who
saw Ter mistake. mean were you ever a wit
ness before =
"No. sir; I never vas in court before" was
the answer
He handed her the Bible open.
..Do you know that book, my daughter =
She locked at II aud answered, Yes or, 1t Is
the Bible"
DO you ever read It p he asked.
:. Yes sir, every evening.
Gan you tell me what the Bible Is 2 in
CURED the Judge.
1T is the word OF the great God, she an
swered.
well, place your hand upon this Bible and
listen TO what say = and repeated slowly and
solemnlv tie cath usually administered t. VII
nesses.
Now" sad The Judge. yo1 have sworn a.
a witness. Will you tell me whal vail befall You
If you do not tel the truth
:. | shall be shut up III the State i'is"u, an
swered the child.
" ANYTHING else 2" asked The Judge.
81 shall never 90 70 Heaven" she replied
., How % you know this q asked the Judge
again.
II to the chapter containing The commandments
pointed 10 the injunction. Thou shalt not bear
false witness against thy neGhbor. " / learn
ed that before | could cad.
q Has any talked with you about your be-
Ing q witness II court here against This man
inquired the Judge.
..Yes sir she replied, my mother heard
thew wanted me 20 be witness, and last night
she called me t. her room and asked me TO tell
her the Ten Commandmeuts,an then We kneel-
ed dowp together and she prayed that | might
understand how wicked il to bear false Wit
ness against nv neighbor, and that God would
help me. little child. 10 tell the truth as 1t v "a
before him. And when | came up here with
father, sue kissed me aud told me to remember
the Ninth Commandment, and that God would
hear every word that | SAID.
Do y0u believe this asked the Judge
while tear gliSteaed in his eye, and his IF
quIyered with emotion.
Yes. sir" said the child with q voice and
manner that showed her conviction of its truth
vas perfect.
God bless YOU my child" said the Judge
YOU have q good mother. This witness Is com.
reteat." he continued " Were l on trial for MY
life. and innocent o. the charge against me,
would pray God for such witnesses Is this. Let
her be examined.
She told her story with the simplc;-v e
child. As she was, but there was
abot il which carried convict
every heart. She was rigid
The counsel piled her with il.
ious questioning. but she varied
statement from nothing. The truth a. 5 t,f
by that little girl was sublime Fal,eh0uu Ju,
perjury had preceded her testimony. The prs
.ner had enJrenched himself IN lies, TIL h.
deemed himself impregnablc. Witnesses la,
ftlsliied facts his favor, and yIllany had man
ufactured for him sham defense But befor
her testimony falsshood was scattered like chati
The little child for whom a mother had prayes
far strength to be given her 10 speak the trutl
n 1t was before God, broke the cunning device
IF matured vIllany 70 pieces like potters vos
sci The strength her mother PRAYED for wa
given her, and The sublime and terrible sImpllc
irv-terrIble | mean to the prisoner and his ~
snciates-with which She spoke. was Ike a rcy
citation from God himself.