Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1858-01-01
I.sITII.


J1ny STATE Reyister
! witnessed q short time ago, in one e
our higher courts, beautiful illustration
of the simplicity and power Of truth. 4
little girl nine years Of age was offered as
witness agsins. prisoner who was on
trial for felony committed 10 her fathers
house. "Now, Emily" said the counsel
for the prisoner, upon her being offered rs
a witness, 81 desire to know if you under
stand the nature Of an oath ," II don't
know what you mean" Yves the simpls
answer. "Therc, your Honor" said the
counsel, addressing the court, sis any
thing further necessary to demonstrate tho
validity Of my objection? This witness
should be rejected She does no. eomprc-
hcnd the nature Of an oath"
"Let Us sce,' said the Judge "C0mq
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 q calm, clear eye, and
III q manner so artless and frank, shat i,
went straigh. to the heart. "Did you
ever take an oath p inquired the Judge.
The little girl stepped back with look Of
horror, and the red blood man.lol in
blush all over her face and neck, as she
answered, "No, SIR She thought be in-
tended to inquire il she ever blasphemed.
IL 30 not mean that, said the Juige, who
saw her mistake, II mean were you ever
witness before?" "No, sir, | never was
in court BEFORE" was the answer. lie
handed her the Bible, open. "Do you
knew that book, my daughter:' She look
ed a. it and answered, "Ies, sir, it is the
Bible" "Do you ever read it?" he asked.
"Yes, sir, every evening" "Can you tell
me what the Bible is inquired the Judge.
sit is the word Of the great God" she
answered. "Well, place your hand upon
this Bible, and listen to what l say" and
he repeated slowly and solemuly the oath
usually administered to witnesses. "Now,"
said the Judge, "you have been sworn as
q witness, will you tell NE what will befall
you if you do not tell the TRUTH" ~
shall be shut up il the State Prison" an
swcIed the child. Anything else ask
ed the Judge. al shall never 60 to Hca-
veD," she replied
! "How do you know this ?" asked the
Judge again. The child toek the Bible
aud turning rapidly to the chapter contaiu-
ing the Commandments, pointed to the
injunction, "Thou shalt not bear false
witness agains; thy ncighbor." II learned
that" she said, "before l could read"
"Ias any one talked with you abou. your
being witness in court here against this
man ~ cnquired the Judge. ayes, sir"
she replied. "My mother heard they
wanted me to be witness, and last nighs
she called me to her room and asked mo
to tell her the Ten Commandments, and
then We kneeled down together, and she
prayed that l 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 as it was
before Him. And when l came up hero
with father, che kissed me, and told me to
remember the ninth Commandment, aud
that God would hear every word that l
said" "Do you believe this ?" asked tho
Judge, while tear giisteued in his eye
and bis lip quivered with emotion. "Yes,
sir, said the child, with voice and man
ner that showed her conviction of the
truth was perfect. "God bless you, my
child said the Judge, "you have a good
mother. This witness is competent" ho
continued. "Were | on trial for my life,
and innocent of the charge agsinst me,
would pray God for such a witness as this.
Let her be examined"
She told her story with the simplicity
Of child Us she was, but there was dl-
rectness abou. j: which carried conviction
Of its truth to every heart. She was rig
idly ss-examined. The counsel Piled
her with Infinite and Ingenious question
ins, bu. she varied from her first state
mcnt in nothing. The truth, IS spoken
by that little child, was sublime. False
hood and perjury had preceded her tes:i-
mony. The prisoner had entrenched him
sell in lies, until he deemed himself im-
prcgnable Witnesses had falsiied facts
in his favor, and villainy had manufactured
f.. hin. sham defence. But, before her
testimony, falschool was scattered Ike
chaf. The little child, fer whom me-
thcr had prayed for strength to be given
her to speak the truth as it was before
God, broke the cunning devices Of maturcd
villaiuy to pieces ike pOttcrs vessel
The strength that her mother prayed FIR
was given her, and the sublime ard terri
be simplicity (,errib!e, / mean, to the
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