Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1859-05-12
CnIIdhood and Truth.

CuilQmOOo ana TruSh.
Witnessed a short time ago, in one of
our higher courts, beautiful Illustration Of
the simplicity and power Of truth. A Ill
tie girl nine years Of age was offered rs q
witness sgainst prisoner, who was on tri-
81 for felony committed in her fathers house,
sNow, Emily said the counsel for the
pyisoaer, upon hsr being offered rs q wit
ness, II desire to understand if You know
the nature Of an oafhr
u don't know what ycu mean,' was the
simple answer.
~There, your honor" said the counsel,
addressing the court sis anything farther
necessary to demonstrate the validity of
my objectionsf This witness should be re-
jected. She does not comprehend The ma
ture 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 confidently up in his face with
calm, clear eye, and in a manner 80 art
less and flank, that it went straight to the
heart.
"Did you ever take an oath!" inquired
the judge.
The little girl stepped back with look
Of horror, and the red blood mantled in q
blush all over her face and neck, as she
answered, "No, sir" She thought be in
tended to inquire if she had ever biaspaem-
ed.
II do not mean that" said the Judge,
who saw her mistake. II mean were you
ever witness beforei"
"No, sir. never was in court BEFORE
He handed her the Bible open.
ado you know that book, my daugh-
terY
She looked at it and answered, ayes, sir;
it is the Bible"
"Did you ever read it I" be asked.
"Yes, sir; every evening""
@Can you tell me what the Bible IS Z" in
quired the judge.
at is the word of the great God" she
answered.
"Wel place your hand upon this Bible,
and listen to what say" and he repeated
slowly and solemnly the oath usually ad--
ministered to witnesses. "Now," said the
judge, "you have been sworn as witness,
will you tell me what will befall you if you
do not tell the truth?" =.
81 shall be shut up in the State prison.
answered the child.
aAnything alseg' asked the Judge.
al shall never go to heaven she replied.
"How do you know!" 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." 81 learned that, she said,
"before could read"
.Has any one talked with you about
your being a witness in court hero against
this mani" inquired the Judge.
"Yes, sir" she replied. "My mother
heard they wanted me to be witness, and
last night she called me into her room and
asked me to tell her the ten command
ments, and then we kneeled down togeth-
er, 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 as
it was before hm. And when I came up
here with father, she kissed ns and told
me to remember the ninth commandment,
and that God would hear every word I
said"
"Do you believe this r asked the Judge,
while tear glistened in bis eye, and his
lips quivered with emotion.
ayes, SIR" said the child, with a voics
and manner that showed her conviction Of
the truth was perfect.
"God bless You, my child,r said the
Judge, "you have good mother. This
witness is competent" he continued
'Were l on trial for my life, and innocent
IF the charge against me, I would pray
God for such a witness as this. Let her
,e examined"
She told her story with the simplicity
If child, as she was, but there was di-
ectness about it, which carried conviction
# its truth 10 every heart. She was rig
dly cross-examined.
The counsel piled her with infinite and
ingenious questioning, but she varied from
Ter first statement in nothing. The truth,
s spoken by the child, was sublime
'alsehood and perjury had preceded her
estimouy. The prisoner had entrenched
imsef in lies, until he deemed himself
Witness had falsifed facts
n his favor, and villainy had manufactured
Dr. him sham defence, but before her les
imony, falsehood was scattered like chaff.
he little child, for whom q mother had
rayed for strength to be given her to
peak the truth as it was before God, broke
be cunning devices of matured villainy to
iecss like q potter's vessel. The strength
hat the mother had prayed for was given,
er, the sublime and terrible simplicity
terrible / mean 10 the prisoner and his
erjured associates) with which she spoke,
as like revelation from God himself
SwUz RErRIsurIoN.-The following