The Tiffin tribune. [volume] (Tiffin, Ohio) 1848-1859, 1858-09-03
The Testimony of the Child.
4 sroRr FOR THE CHILDREN.


ness, 81 desire to know il you understand
the nature Of an oathp'
81 don't know what you mean" was
tho simple answer.
"There. your honor" said the ooun.
sci, addressing the court; 'is anything
further necessary to demonstrate the va
lidity Of my objection? This witness
should be rejected. She does not compre-
hend the nature Of an oath"
'Let us see, [" said the judge. "Come
here, my daughter "
Assured by the kind tone and manner
Of the judge, the child stepped toward
him, and looked confdingly up in his face,
with a calm clear eye, and in a manner so
arLless and frank, that went straight TO the
heart.
"Did you ever take an oath?" inquired
the judge. The little girl stepped back
with look Of horror. aud the red blood
mantled in blush all over her face and
neck as she answered.:
"No, SIR"
She thought he intended to inquire II
she had ever blasphemed.
81 do not mean that" said the Judge,
who saw her mistake, al mean were you
ever witness before?"
"No, sir; never was in court before, "
was the answer.
lie handed her the Bible open.
"Do you know that book, my daught-
er?''
She looked at l. and answered, eyes,
sir, it is the Bible"
"Do you ever read it?' he asked.
''N es, sir, every evening""
"Can you tell me what the Bible is?''
inquired the Judge,
at is the word Of the great God" she
answered.
"Well, place your hand upon this Bible,
and listen to what say" and he repeat =
cd slowly and solemnly the oath usually
administered 10 witnesses.
Now" said the Judge, you have
sworn as witness, will you tell me what
will become of you If you do not tell the
truth?"
81 shall be shut up in the State prison, -
answered the child.
"''AnythinO else?" asked the Judge.
Il shall never 50 TO Heaven" she re-
piled.
"How do you know this?" asked the
Judge again.
The child took the Bible, and turning
rapidly TO the chapter containing the com
mandments, pointed to the Injunction,
"Thou shalt not bear false witness against
thy neighbor." IL learned that before |
could read" .-.... -
HAS any one talked to you about be-
ing witness in court here against this
MANI" inquired the judge.
Eyes, sir" she replied. "My mother
heard they wanted me TO be a witness, and
last night she called me to her room and
asked me to tell her the Ten Command
ments; and then we kneeled down togeth-
er, and she prayed that | might under
stand how wicked it was to bear false wit
ness against my neighbor. and that God
would help me, little child, to tell the
truth as it was before. And when | came
up here with father, she kissed me and
told me to remember the tenth command
ment, and that God would hear every
word that l said"
"Do you believe this?" asked the Judge,
while tear glistened in his eye, and his
lip quivered with emotion.
"Yes, sir" said the child. with a voice
and manner that showed her conviction Of
its truth was perfect.
"God bless you, my child" said the
Judge; "you have a good mother. This
witness is competent" He continued,
''Wore on trial for my life, and innocent
of the charge against me, | would pray
God for such witnesses as this. Let her
be examined"
She told her story with the simplicity
Of a child, as she was, but there was a
directpess about it which carried convic-
ton of its truth to every heart. She was
rigidly cross-examined. The counsel
piled her with very 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 entrenohed himself in her,
till he deemed himself impregnabls.--
Witnesses had falsifed facts in his favor,
and yillainy had manufactured for him q
sham defense. But before her testimony,
! falsehood was scattered like chaf. The
little child, for whom a mother had pray
ed for strength to be given her to speak
the truth as it was before God, broke the
cunning devices Of matured villainy tC
pieces ike potter's vessel. The strength
that her mother prayed for, was givei
her, and the sublime and terrible simplio'
ity-terrible mean to the prisoner and
his associates-with which she spoke, wal
like a revelation from God himself.
EE-Gerrit Smiths Convention at syr
acuse was fizze. The delegates got int
a muss over who had right TO discuss
the resolutions offered, and the President
resigned his seat aud the majority Of the
Convention left in disgust. But twenty
members were left, and they proceeded L
finish the business. Gerrit was nomina
ted. and the resolutions passed by bu
seven votes.
OUR BRAINs.-Says the Autccrat:--
"0ur brains are seventy year clocks. The
angel Of life winds them up once for all
then closes the cases, and gives the heJ
into the hand Of the angel Of the resur
recton."