Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-02-26
THE POWER OF Truth.

=" | witnessed short time ago, in one OF
our higher Courts, n beautiful illustration OF |
the simplicity and power of the truth. lit
tie girl, nine years of age was offered as II
witness against prisoner who was on trial
for felony committed in her fathers house.
Now, Emily, said the counsel for the
prisoner, upon her being offered as a witness,
| desire to know if you understand the ma
turc Of an cath 2?
I don't know what you mean, was the
simple answer.
There, your honor, said the counsel, nd
dressing the Court, is any thing further ne
necessary to demonstrate the validity OF my
objection? This witness should be rejected.
She does not comprehend the nature OF an
oath
Let us Soc said the Judge Come here,
my daughter Assured by the kind tone
and manner of Judge, the child stepped to-
ward him and looked confdingly up in his
face, with a calm, clear eye, and in manner
SO artless and frank that it went straight to
the heart. Did YOU ever take an oath ? in
auired the Judge The little girl stepped
back with a look of horror, and the red blood
mantcd in a blush all over her face and neck
as she an wered,
no. sir. She thought he intended to in
quirc if she had ever blasphemed
| do not mean that, said the Judge, who
saw her mistake, mean, were you ever
witness beforo?'
No, sir, never was in court before, was
the answer.
He handed her the Bible open. Do you
| know that book, my daughter?' p
She looked at it and answered, Yes, sir
it is the Bible
Do YOU ever read it p he asked.
Yes, sir, every evening"
Can YOU tell me what the Bible is, in
qured the Judge.
1T is the word Of the great God, she an
swered
"Wcll, place your hand upon this Bible,
and listen to what | say and he repeated
slowly and solemnly the oath usually admin
stercd to witnesses Now said the Judge,
you have been sworn as q witness, will you
tell me what will befall you if you do not tell
the truth p
i shall be shut up in the State Prison,
answered the child
Anything else p asked the Judge.
Il shall not go to heaven she replied.
How do you know this? p asked the Judge
again.
The child took the Bible, and turning
rapidly to the chapter containing the Com
maudments, pointed to the injunction, Thou
shalt not bear false witness against thy
neighbor.' Il learned that she said, be
fore | could read
Has any one talked to you about being
witness in court here against this man. in
quircd the Judge.
Z" Yes SIR she replied. "My mother
heard they wanted me to be witness. anC
last night she called me to her room and askcC
me to tell her the ten commandments, an,
then we kneeled down together, and she pray
ed that | might understand how wicked i
was to bear false witness against my neigh
Dor, and that God would help me, a littl
child, to tell the truth as it was before him
, And when ! came up here with father, sh
kissed me, and told me to remember tn
ninth commandment, and that God woul
hear every word ! said.
! Do YOU believe this, asked the Judge
while Il tear glistoncd in his eye and his lip
| quivcrcd with emotion.
t Yes. sir said the child with a voice an
| manner that showed her conviction of tn
r truth was perfect.
God bless you, my child said the Judg,
G you have a good mother. This witness
r competent, he continued. Were on tri5
: for my life, and innocent of the charc
= against me, would pray God for such Wi
i nc~scs as this. Let her be examined.
= She told her story with the simplicity Of
o child. ~ she was. but there was dircctnct
: about it which carried conviction of its trut
!, to every heart She was rigidlv cross-eXam
5 ined, The counsel piled her with infni
o and ingenious qucstionings, but She varie
;. from her first statement in nothing. IT
Il truth as spoken by that little child W;
d sublime. Talschood and perjury had pr
i ccdcd her testimony. The prisoner had Ell
a trancbnd himself in lies until he dcpmt