The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-11-22
Simplicity Of Truth.

| witnessed a short time ago, in one 01
our high courts, q beautiful illustration
of the simplicity and power Of truth:
A little girl, nine years OF age, was
| offered as a witness against a 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
q witness, 8" / desire to understand il
you know the nature OF an oath?'
:" i doa't know what you mean,n was
the simple answer.
There, your HONOR said the eoun-
sci, addressing the court, 'si is anything
further necessary to demonstrate the
validity of my objections? This witness
should be rejected. She does not COM
prehend the nature of an OATH"
Let Us see,o said the Judge, "come
here my daughter.o
Assured by the kind manner and tone
OF the Judge, the child stepped towards
him and looked confidently up in his
face with a calm clear eye, and in a
manner so artless and frank it went
straight to the heart.
g Did you ever take an oath:' in
CURED the Judge.
The little girl stepped back with a
look of horror, and the red blood man
tied in blush all over her face as she
answered, "No sir" She thought he
intended to inquire if she ever BIAS
phemed.
" do not mean that said the Judge,
who saw her mistake. " mean were
you ever a witness before 20
He handed her the Bible open.
" do you know that book, my daugh-
ter?"
She looked at it and answered, eyes,
sir, it is the Bible"
6 Do you ever read it ?' he asked.
:: Yes, sir-every evening"
"Can you tell me what the Bible is 20
6 1t is the Word of the Great God,"
she answered.
"Well place your hand upon this
Bible and listen to what | say" and he
repeated slowly and solemnly the oath
usually administered 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.
"Anything else?" asked the Judge.
I" l shall never go to heaven"
How do you know" asked the
Judge again.
The child took the Bible, and turning
rapidly to the chapter containing the
commandments, pointed to the injunc-
ton, "Thou shalt not bear false witness
against thy neighbor." 81 learned
that" she said, "before l could read"
elias 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 that they wanted me as witness,
and last night she called me into her
room, and asked me 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, a little
child, to tell the truth as it were before
Him. And when 1 came here with
father, she kissed me and told me to re-
member the ninth commandments, and
that God would hear every word said"
I" Do you believe this ?" asked the
Judge, with tear glistening in his
eyes and his lips quivering with
emotion.
"Yes, sir" said the child, with Il
voice and manner that sho wed her con-
viction of the truth was perfect.
"God bless you, my child" said the
Judge, "you have good mother. This
witness is competent" he continued:
Were / on trial for my life and in
nOcant Of the CHARGES apainSt me- |