Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1858-03-19
A BEAUTIFUL STORY.

4 HltueSSeQ u SuoIt lllDe Al Ouo VI WI
higher courts, beautiful illustration Of the
simplicity and power Of truth. little girl
i.ine years Of age was offered as a witness
against the prisoner who was on trial for felo-
nv committed in her fathers house. 'Now
Emily said the counsel for the prisoner, upon
her being offered as witness, 81 desire TO un-
derstand if you know the nature of an oathg'
Il don't know what you Eean,' was the sim
pie answer.
There, your honor,' said the counsel, ad-
dressing the court, SIS anything farther ne cess
sary to demonstrate the validity of nay objce-
tiousa This witness should be rejected. She
does not comprehend the nature of an OATH
sIet Us see, said the judge; 'eome here my
daughter
Assured by the kind tone and manner of the
Judge, the child stepped towards him, and look
ed confidently up 10 his tace with a calm clear
eve, and in a manner so artless and frank, that
il went straight to the heart.
did YOU ever take an oath?' inquired the
judge.
The little girl stepped back with look of
horror, and the red blood mantled in blush
all over her face and neck, as she answered,
mo SIR She thought he intended to inquire If
she had ever blasphemed.
Il dc not mean that said tie Judge, who
saw her mistake, 4 mean were you ever a
witness before?'
sNo, sir, ] never was In court before He
handed her Bible open.
DO you know that book my daughter!
She Iooked at it and answered, sYes sir; it
is Bible
DO you ever read il! be asked.
Eyes sir; every evening"
sCan you tell Inc what the Bible isF' inquired
the judge.
It is the word OF the great God,' she an
swered.
well, place your hand upon this Bible, and
listen 10 what say; aud he repeated slowly
and solemnly the oath usually administered to
witnesses. 'Now said the Judge, you have
been sworn as witness, viii you tell me what
will befall you if you do not tell the truth2'
Il shall be shut up in the State prison, az
swered the child,
| Anything elseP asked the judge.
Il shall never 90 to Heaven she replied.
| sHow do you know p asked the judge
| again.
The child took the Bible, and turning rap
/ idly to the chapter containing the command
nents pointed to the injunction, EThou shall
not bear false witness against thy neighbcr.
i learned that she said, before / could read
HAS any Que talked with you about your
| being witness in court here against this MANI
inquired the Judge.
sYes SIR she replied. My mother hearC
they wanted me to be witness, aud last nigh
she called me to her rocu and asked me Il
/ tell her the ten commandments, and then W,
kLeeled down together, and she prayed that
might understand how wicked it was to bea
false witness, and that God would help me,
little child to tell the truth, as it were before
him. And when came up here with father
she kissed me and told me to remember th
ninth commandment, and that God would hea
every word said'
sDo YOU believe ths?' asked the judge Will
a tear glstened in his eye, and his lips culver
ed with emotion.
sYes SIR said the girl with voice and man
ner that showed her conviction of the uut
was perfect
sGod.bless you my child said the. judge
you have good mother. This witness is com
pstent.' he continued. sWere | on trial 70
my life, and Innocent Of the charge against me
| would pray God for such witness this
Let her be examined
| She told her story with the simplicity of
child, as she was, but there was a directnes
about it which carried conviction of its trat
to every heart. She was rigidly cross-exami
ned. The counsel piled her with infinite an
ingenious questioning, but she varied from be
first statement in nothing. The truth, as spo
ken BY that child, was sublime. Faseboo
and perjury had preceded her testimony. Th
prisoner had inirenohed himself in lies, until b
deemed himself impregnable. Witnesses ha
falsifcd facts in his favor, and villainy ha
manufactured for him sham defence, but be
fore her testimony, falsehood was scattere
like chasf. The little child ,.for whom a moth
or had prayed for strength to be given her I