Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-02-06

Judge. The little girl stepped back.witha looli
Of horror, and the red blood mantlcd ina blush
all over her face and neck as sheahswefed: : &
"No sir"
She thought he intended to inquire if she
had ever blasphemed.
81 do not mean that" said the Judge, who
saw her mistake, 81 mean were you ever a
witness beiorei"
''No, sir; never was in court before, was
lie handed her the Bible open.
Is eDo you know that book, my daughter r
She looked att and answered, eyes sir, II
is the Bible l's
rDo You ever read it?" he asked. 3'l .ft
"Yes, sir, every evening"
"Can you tell me what the Bible is ?" in
quired the Judge
at is the word of the great God,' she an
swered.
swell, place your hand upon this Bible, and
listen to what say; and he repeated slowly
and solemnly the oath usually administered
to witnesses.
Now" said the Judge, "you have sworn
as a witness, win you tell me what will befall
you if you do not tell the TRUTH" 24aa x
II shall be shut up in State Prison." an
swered the child. NJ, ae s
Anything clse9" asked the Judge
81 shall never 60 to Heaven, she replied.
"How do you know this?' asked the Judge
again. S.a,
The child took the Bible, and turning rapid
ly to the chapter containing the commandments,
pointed to the injunction, "Thou sh 1t not
bear false witness against thy neighbor." I" j
learned that before1 could read"
Has any one talked with you about your
being witness in court here against this manp''
inquired the Judge
Yes, sir, she replied. "My mother heard
they wanted me to be witness, 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 prayed that
might. understand how wicked it was to bear
false witness against my neighbor, and that
God would help me, little child, to tell the
truth rs it was before him. And when came
up here with father, she kissed me and told me
to remember the Ninth Commandment, and
that God would hear every word that said"
Do you believe this?" asked the Judge,
while tear glistened in his eye, and his lip
quivered with emotion
eyes, sir, said the child, with voice and
manner that showed her conviction of its truth
was perfect
"God bless you, my child, said the Judge,
"you have good mother This witness is
competent" he continued "Were on trial
for my life, and innocent of the charge rwould
pray God for such witnesses as this Let her
be examined"
She told her story with the simplicity of q
child, as she was, but there was directness
about it which carried conviction of its truth
to every heart. She was rigidy cross-examin
cd The counsel Piled her with infinite and
ingenious questioning, but she varied from her
first statement in nothing. The truth as spoken
by that little child was sublime Falsehood
and perjury had preceded her testimony. The
prisoner had irtrenched himself in lies, till he
deemed himself impregnable. Witnesses bad
falsiliod facts in his favor, and villainy had
manufactured for him sham defence But
before her testimony, falsehood was scattered
like chaf The little child for whom mother
had prayed for strength to be given her to
speak the truth as it was before God broke
the cunning devices of matured villainy to
pieces like potter's vessel. The strength
that her mother prayed for was given her, and
the sublime and terrible simplicity-t~rible
mean to the prisoner and his nssociates-wiih
which she spoke was ike revelation from
God himself lt d