Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1858-02-27
MISCELLANEOUS.
A BEAUTIFUL STORY.

our high courts, beautiful illustration of
the simplicity and power of truth. A little
girl nine years of age was offered as
witness against prisoner, who was on trial
for felony committed in her fathers house.
"Now, Emily" said the counsel fer the
prisoner, upon her being offered as a wit
ness, II desire to understand if you know
the nature of an oath y
81 don't know what you mcan," was the
simple answer.
"There, your HONOR said the counsel
addressing the court, sis anything farther
necessary to demonstrate the validity of
my objections' This witness should be
rejected. She does not comprehend tho
nature of an OATH"
"Lot us seo," said the Judge "como
here, my daughter"
Assured by the kind tone and manner
of the judge, the child stepped towards
him, and looked confidently up into his
face with calm clear eye, and in man.
ner so artlosB and frank that it went straight
to the heart.
"Did you ever take sn oath ?" inquired
the judge,
The little girl stepped bnck with look
Of horror, and the red blood mantIed in q
blush all over her face and neck, as she
answered, emo SIR" She thought he in
tended to inquire if she had ever blasphcm-
ed.
81 do not mean that said the Judge,
who saw her mistake. 81 mean were you
ever witness before? :"
"No sir; never was in Court before"
He handed her the Bible open.
"Do you know that book, my daughter?'
She looked at it and answered, "Yes, sir !;
il is the Bible"
do you ever read :" he asked.
eyes sir; every evening"
"Can you tel! mo what the Bible isl"
Inquired the Judge.
"It is the word Of the great God" she
answered.
"Well, place your hand upon this Bible,
and listen to what 1 say;" and he repeat
ed slowly and solemuly the oath usually
administered to witnesses. "Now," said
the judge, "you have been sworn as q wit.
ness, will you tell me what will befall you
if you do not tell the TRUTH"
II shall be shut up in the State prison. y
answered the child.
"Anything else !" ssked the Judge.
~ shall never 60 to heaven" she replied.
GLOW do you know :" asked the judge
again.
Tho child took the Bible, and turning
rapidly to the chapter containing the COM
mandmcnts, pointed TO the injunc ton,
"Thou shalt not bear false witness against
thy neighbor." 81 learned that" she said
''bcfore could read"
''IIas any one talked with you about
your being a witness in court here against
this mani" inquired the Judge.
ayes 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 knclt down together, and she
prayed that might understand how wick
ed it was to bear false witness against my
ncighbor, and that God would help me, a
3 child, to tell the truth as 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 1 said"
"Do you believe this 7" asked the Judge
while tear glistened in his eye, and his
lips quivored with emotion.
"Yes, sir" said the child, with voice
and manner that showed her conviction oil
the truth was perfect.
, "God bless you, my Child" said the judge;
you have good mother. This witness is
competent" he continued. "Nere on
trial for my life, and innocent of the charge
against me, would pray God for such a
witness as this, Let her be examined"
She told her story with the simplicity Of
a child, as she was, but there was direct
: ness about it which carried conviction Of
its truth to every heart. She was rigidly
cross examined. The counsel Piled her
J with Infinite and ingenious questioning, but
she varied from her first statement in moth
ing. The truth as spoken by that child
, was sublime. Falsohood and perjury had
preceded her testimony. The prisoner
had sntrenched himself in lies, until he
deemed himself imprcgnable. Witnesses
had falsifed facts in his favor, and villiany
} had manufactured for him n sham defence