Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-03-04
Truth-The Testimony of the Child.

[ A@S Iidepe9tdelf.
Truth-The Testimony Of the Child
A little girl nne years of age was offered
as witness against prisoner who was on
trial for felony Committed in her father:
house.
NOW, Emily," said the council for the
prisoner, upon her being offered as a witness
Il desire to know il you understand the na.
ture OF an oath!''
u don't know what you mean,' was the
simple answer
There. your honor" said the counsel, ad-
dressing the court, sis anything further
necessary to demonstrate the validity of my
objection! This witness should be rejected
She does not comprehend the nature of an
outa.'
Let us see," said the judge. "Come here
my daughter"
Assured by tbs kind tone and manner OF
the Judge. the Child stepped toward him, and
looked confdngly up in his face, with a
calm, clear eye, and in a manner so artless
and i-sni, that " ent straight to the heart.
! "D.d yea ever take an oath !" inquired the
Judge. The little girl stepped back with a
/ lJOk ol horror, aud the red 0Ioud mantled in
d blush al over her face an neck as she
! ansa cred:
| No. sir"
! She thought he intended 70 inquire if she
had ever b!asphemed.
81 do Lot meal .hat," said the Judge, who
saw her mistake, Il mean were you ever a
witness before!"
"Np, SIR; / never was in court before"
was the answer.
He handed her the Bible open.
DO you know that bIok, my iaughter!''
She ioukcd at il and answered, Yes, sir,
it is the Bible"
"Do you ever read it!'' he asked.
"Yes s;r, every evening"
"Can you tell ne what the Bible isl" in
CURED the Judge.
1T is the word of the great God" she an
swrred.
We'll, place your hand upon this Bible,
and listen 10 Ahat | Say;'' and ne repeated
slowly and solemniv the oath usually admin
isterrd to witnesses.
Now - said the Judge. "you have sworn
as a witness, " i'll you tell me what will be-
Ia Jos Is y.1t; do .,os tell ;hs iFaI,hw =
81 shall be shut up in the state prison."
answered the chi 3D.
Anything else!" asked the Judge.
81 shall never GO to Heav, n," she replied.
How do you know this!" asked the Judge
again.
The child took the Bible, and turning
rapidly to the chrp'er containing the COM
m2n iments, pointed to the injunction,
'.Thou shalt not Gear false witness against
thy ne;gi.brr." IL learned that before
could read
Has any one talked with you about being
a witness in ccurt here against this manr
inquired the Judge.
"Yes, sir," she replied. My mother
heard they wanted me to be witness, and
last night she called me to her roum and
asked me to tell her the Ten Command
ments, and then we kneeled down together
and she prayed that might understand how
wicked it was to bear alse wItnPss against
nv ei.hoor, and that Gni would help me,
little child, 20 tell 'hc truth as it WAS
before. Aul when-I came up here with
father, she kissed ne and told ne to remem-
Der the ninth commandment, and that God
would hear every word that | Said.''
DO YOU believe this!" u7ked the judge,
while 4 tear gistened in iiis eye and his lip
qGivered with emotion
Yes, sir" said the child, with voice
and manner tina, showed her conviction of
is truth YVES perfect.
"Goi bless you. my child" said thr Judge
''you have il good mother. This witness is
competent, he CONTINUED "Were | on tii1l
for my life. and ianocent of the charge
az .inst me, would pray God for such wit
uezses a. this>. Let her be examined"
She told Hy y tn the simplicity OF
C iI,as slls but there was a directness
about it which carried conviction of its
truth to every heart. She vas rigidly cross
examined. The counsel piled her with in
genious questioning, but she varied from
her first statement in nothing The truth
as spoken by that little child was sublime.
Falsehuod and perjury had prereIed her tes-
limonv The prisoner had intrenched him.
sell in lies. til ne deemed himssi: impreg-
nab!e With 'ssrS had faiSi!ied facts in his
favor, and liaiHy had manuf,c'erCd for him
Il sham Lelensa But before her testimony,
falsehoud was scattered Ike chat. The
little ch Id for whom { mother had prayed
for strength to be given her 10 speak the
truth as it was before q d, broke the cum
nrr devices O: matured yil!aihy TO pieces
like potter's vessel. The strength that
her IN m.gher prayed for was given her, and
the sublime and terrible implicily-;crribie
mean 10 thcsprisoner and his associates
with which she spoke, was Ike revelation
rom God himself.
Perils of Parting.
'I'Aara is ono u.arninr lesson in II fn " hirh