The weekly Ottumwa courier., 1864-01-14

The Oath.
* little girl, nine years Of age. was offer
ed as a witness against prisoner who
was on trial for felony committed ip her
fathers house. ~
Now, Emily" said the counsel for the
prisoner, upon. her being offered as wit
ness, II desire to know if you understand
the nature Of an oath"
81 don't know what You mean" was
the simple answer.
"There, your Honor" said the counsel
addressing the court, ..is any thing further
necessary to demonstrate the validity Of
my objection This witness should be re.
jected. She oes not comprehend the ma
ture Of an OATH"
Let US see, said the Judge, Come here
ny daughter :"
Assured by the kind tone and manner Of
the Judge, the child stepped toward him.
and looked con6dingly up in his face, with a
calm, clear eye. and manner 80 artlsss
and frank that went straight to the heart
"Dd you ever take an oath p inquired
the Judge. The little girl stepped back
with look of horror, and the red blood
mantled in blush all over hsr face and
neck. as she answered, ya
"No, sir.''
She thought he intended to inquire il
she had ever blasphemei. as
IL do not mean that" said the Judge.
who saw her mistke. ~ mean were you
ever a witness before 2"
..No sir; never was in court before, !"
was tn. answer. su
!. RI. hsn1el her the Bible open.
..Do kssw that book. my daughter - !.
She looked att and answered, "Yes, sir
it is the Bible" as
) ..Do you, ever read it - be asked
"Yes, sir. every evening""
4 ''Can YOU tell me what the Bible is -
inquired the Judge
.I, is the trd Of the great God," abe
answered. 4tHm
"Wel. place yonr hand upon this Bible,
and listen to what saw" and he repeated
slowly and solemnly the oath usually admin
stored to Witnesses at
"Nov said tn, Judge. ".trou have sworn
as witness, will you tell me what will hs-
fall you if you do not tell the truth'' i,
II shall b. shu. up in the STATE Prison.
answered the child. -
"Anv thing else? asked the Judge
Fl shall never ~ to heaven" she replied
"Hew do you know this - asked the
Judge again.
The child took the Bible and turning rap
idly to the chapter containing the command
ments. pointed to the injunction. "Thou
shalt not bear false witness against thv
neghbor." learned that before | could
read !" et o .Ef
t..Has any one talked with you about your
being witness in court here against this
man ?" inquired the Judge.
"Yes, sir" she replied. "My mother
heard they wanted me to be witness, and
last night she called m, to her room and
asked me to tell her the Ten Commandments
and Their we kneeled down together, and she
prayed that might understand how wicked
it was to bear false witness against mv
neighbor. and that God would help me, a
little child, to tell the truth as if it was he
fore him. And when came up here with
father. she kissed me and told me tc remem
her the Ninth Commandme. {, and thai
God would hear every wort: that said"
nDo you believe this?' asked the Judge
while tear sljstened in his eye, and his lip
quivered with emotion.
"Yes, sir" said the child, with voice
aud manner that showed her conviction OF
its truth was perfect. p
"God bless you, nv child. said the Judge
lyon have good mother. This witness is
competent" he continued. '.Were I or
trial for my life. and innocent Of the charge
against me. I would pray God for sdch wit.
nesxes as this. Let her be examined"
She told her story with the simpl,ity Of .
child as she was. but there was directness
about il which carried conviction Of its truth
to every heart She was rigidly cross ex
amincd The counsel Piled her with infinite
and Ingenious questioning. but she varied
from her first statement in nothing. The
tru,h as spoken by thst little child was sub
lime Falsehnod and perjsry had preceded
her testimony. The prisoaer had intrench-
ed himself in lies till he deemed himself i'm
pregnable. Witnesses had falsified facts in
his favor. and villainy had manufactured for
him a sham defence. Bat before her false
hood was scattered like chaff. The little
child, for whom . mother had prayed for
strength to be given her to speak the truth
"a it was before Col. broke the cunning de,
vices of ma.urad villainy to pieces like a
potter's vessel. Tue strength that her mo
ther prayed for was given her, and the sub
lime and terribls simplicity mean
to the prisoner and his associates-with
which shs spoke was like revelation from
God himself The ChiiFs Budget.
ASEevAsr Girls PBsa9eArlvEs. Now
Mis-, Bradford. always like to have a goot
old fashioned talk with the lady lives with
before begin Pm svful tempered, bnt Tn
dreadful forgiving. Have you the best 0
-four, good range. hot and cold water, sta
tiunary tubes oil.cloth on the f1oor dn,r,