Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1861-07-10
The Child Witness.


The following beautiful illustration of
simplicity and truth, is from the pen
Of $, II. Hammond, formerly editor of the
Albany State Register He was an eye
witness to the scene, which took place in
one of our highest courts.
y little girl, nine years Of age, was Of
fered as witness asainSt prisoner who
was on trial for felony committed in her
fathers house.
Now, Emily said the counsel for the
prisoner, upon her being offered as a wit
ness, 4 desire to know whether you know
the nature Of an oath?'
i don't know what you mean, was the
simple answer.
There, your honor said the counsel,
addressing the court, is anything further
necessary to demonstrate the validity OF my
objection? This witness should be reject
ed She does not know the nature Of an
cath
Let US see, said the Judge. Come
here, MY daughter
Assured By the kind tone and manner
Of the Judge, the child stepped towards
him and looked confdihgIy up in his face,
with a calm, clear eye, and in a manner so
artless and frank that it went straight to
the heart.
Did you ever take an oath {? inquired
the Judge. The little girl stepped back
with a look of horror, and the red blood
mantled in blush all over her face and
neck as she answered:
no sir.
She thought he had intended to inquire
if she had ever blasphemed.
4 did not mean that, said the Judge,
who saw her mistake. 4 mean were you
ever a witness before"
NO sir, never was in court BEFORE was
the answer.
lie handed her an open Bible
DO you know that book, my daughter"
She looked at it and answered:
yes sir, it is the Bible
DO you ever read it? he asked
Yes 81, every evening
Can you tell ne what the Bible is 2 in
qured the Judge.
1T is the word of the great God said
she.
We'll, place your hand upon this Bible,
and listen to what | say and he repeated
slowly and solemnly the oath usually ad-
ministcred to witnesses.
Now said the Judge, you are sworn
as a witness: will you tell me what Will be-
tal you if you do not tell the truth?'
4 will be shut up in the State Prison.
answered the child.
Anything else?' asked the Judge.
i shall never go to Heaven, she repli-
ed.
How do you know this| asked the |
Judge again.
The child took the Bible and turned |
rapidly to the chapter containing the COM
mandments, and pointed to the injunction,
Thou shalt net bear false witness against !
thy neighbor' I learned that before !
could read
Has any one talked with you about be- |
ing witness here in court against this
man. induired the Judge.
yes SIR she replied. My mother
heard that they wanted me to be witness, t
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-
or, and she prayed that L might uhder-
stand how wicked it was to bear false wit
ness against my neighbor, and that God |
would help me, a little 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 Com
and that God would hear every
word 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 voice
and manner that showed her conviction of
its truth was perfect.
God bless you, my child said the
Judge; you have good mother. The
witness is competent he continued
Were I on trial for my life, and innocent
of the charge against me [ would pray
God for such Witnesses as this. Let her
be examined i
She told her story with the simplicity OF
a child, as she was, but there was dis
tinctness about it that carried CONVICTION OF
its truth to every heart. She was rigidly
cross examined The counsel piled her