Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1858-09-09

We t1isk ~ bave No whsss seen . nor,
s;spls, soschias. and bsastifal narrative
shovisg forth IL povsr u trsth, thss hi
which follows. h i Iron ths pen offs. h
H.nmosd, tie sathor d" Cosatry Mar
giss," ard . most plsasass ard genia
writer:
~ witaessed short tins ago, 10 %.
ofoar higher courts. : bsautifai iilustra
ton Of The simplicity and power Of trsth
A little girl nine years Of aGe vas offered
~ witness against . prisoaer Who ~.
on trial fr feIouy con~ittsd il hsr f..i.
er'. house. Nov, Emily. sid The coan.
.el for the prisoner, upon her being offered
ss witness. !" l desire to know If you IN
derstand the nature of An OATH I"
II don't know what yoa mean," VAS
the simple answer.
|" There. your honor" !" said the coansel
addressing the court, is anything farther
necessary to demonstra:e the validity of
my objection This witness should be
rejected. She does not comprehend the
nature Of On OATH" a@
LET as see," said the judge. I" Come
here my daughter" Assured By the kind
tone and manner Of the judge, the child
stepped toward him, .at Looked con6ding
y up ia his face with calm, clear eye,
and in manner 20 artIess and frank that
il went strsight to the heart Did you
ever take m oath ?" inquired the judge.
The little girl stepped back With Look Of
horror, and the red blood msntled in y
blssh all over her face and neck ss she
answered, s
NO, sir" She thought he intended to
inquire IL she had ever Ll.sphemed.
81 do not mean that. said the judge,
Who saw her mistake, ~ mean wers you
ever . witness beforef" -"@ ..E
:" No, sir, never wss in court before" !"
Was the answer.
He handed her the Bible, open. |" Do
yon know that book my daughteri"
She looked at II and answered, AYES,
sir. Il is the Bible" ss
"Du you ever resd it p he asked.
Yes, sir, every evening" t50,
ACan you tell me what The Bible is."
inquired the judge. s '-s
at is the word Of the great Cod" she
answered. '# 's.@o~a a'
"weil. pince your hand upon this Bible.
and listen to ~ha, ] say !" and he rereated
slowly aud soIsmnly the oath usually I'D
ministcred to witnesses. "Now," said the
Judge. "you have sworn .s a witness. /:
will you tell me what viii befa'l you il
you do not tell the tru,h?''
Il shall b. shu, up 10 State Prison, !"
answered the child.
Anything else 2" asked the Judge.
~ shall no, 20 to Heaven" she replied
"How do you know this - asked the
Judge again.
The child took the Bible, and turning
rapidly to the chapter containing the COM
mandmen's. pointed to the injunction.
Thou shalt mt bear false witness against
Thy neiyhb,r." II learned that" she said,
" before corld read.'' "
7" Has any one talked TO you about BE-
ing . witness in court here against this
man ?" inquired the Judge.
Yes. SIR" .hs replied. my mother
heard they wanted me 70 Ls . witness.
aud last night she called me to her room,
and asked me 10 tell her the ten command
ments. and then We kneeled down togelh.
er. and she prayed tbs. I nigh, understand
ho~ wicked il was to bear false witness
against my neighbor, and that God would
help me, . little child. 10 tell the truth as
], was before him. And when I 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 this1" asked the
Judge, while tear glistened in his eye,
and his lip quivered with emotion.
"Yes, SIR said the child With . voice
and 'oanoer that showed her conviction Of
the truth was perfect.
God bless you, my child.- said the
Jsdye, "you have good mother. This
witness is competent" hs continued.-
We're on trial for my life, and innoce.t
Of the charge against me, | would pray for
such Witnesses - this. Let her be exam.
ined."
She told her story with the simplicity Of
child, - she WAS, but there was direct.
ness about is which carried conviction Of
i,s truth to every heart. She vas rigidly
cross-examioed. The counsel piled ber
with initiate and ingenious qnesiioninga,
bu, she varied from her 6rss statement in
nothing. The truth - spoken By that lii.
tls child was sublime. Falsehood and per.
jury bad lprecedsd her testimony. The
prisoner had entrenchsd himself in lies,
until be deemed himself impregnable.-
Witnesses had falsi6ed facts in his favor
aud ,illainy had manufactured for him .
sham defence. But before her testimony.
faIsehood was scattered like chat. Ths
little child for whom her mother had prsy.
ed for strength . be given Der 70 speak
the truth - it vas before God, broke down
the cunning device Of msiured ,illainy 70
cieces like pAter's vessel. The strength
la, her m"b~r prayed for WAS given her,