Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-11-08


\ the simplicity and power of truth:
AlIttie girl nine years 'of9Sge, was offer
ed as witness against prisoner who was
on trial for felony committed In her iathers
house. -, 90,
prisoner, upon her being offered as a wit
ness: VI desire TO understand If you know
the nature of an oath 2" II,
E III don't know what you NEAR" was the
SThere, YOUR honnor," said the counsel,
addressing the court, "is anything further
eessarytouemonstrat the validity ofmy
objeetions2 This witness should be re-
iected. She does not comprehend the ma
'i %Iet ct us see" said the Judge, "come here,
my daughter"
OF the Judge, the child stepped towards
him and looked confidently up in his face
witb a calm. clear eve, and In a manner so
artless and frank it went straight 10 the
heart. .-...., ....,.,..-.-
'.Dld you ever take an oath! inquired
the Judge. 80 -.
The little girl stepped back with look
of horror, and the red blood mantled IN a
blush all over her face as she answered,
mo sir" She thought he intended TO In
~.
uuire If she ever blasphemed.
81 do not mean that" said the Judge,
who saw her mistake, II mean were you
ever witness before ~ ~
He handed her the Bible open.
"Do YOU know that book, my daughter 2"
She looked at it and answered, "Yes, sir,
it is the Bible" 49,.
apo you ever read it?" he asked.
ayes, sir-every evening"
"Can YOU tell me what the Bible IS Z"
at is the word of the Great Cod" she
answered.
We'll place your hand upon this Bible
and listen to what l say" and 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 WDaI az.
will bcfall you if you do not tell the truth 2,
II SHAH be shut up in the State Prison" :"
answered the child. -
"An,t'ing else ?n asked the Judge.
81 shall never 20 to heaven" s11
"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 lDJuncuon,
~I'hou shall not bear false witness against
thy neighbor." IL learned that" she said
"before could read"
'"Has any one talked with you about
your being witness in court here against
this man?" inquired the Judge.
"Yts, sir" she replied: my mother heard
that they wanted me as witness, and last
night she called me into her room and ask
ed 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,
. little child, to tell the truth as 1t were be-
for Him. And when | came here with
father, she kissed me and and told me to re-
member the ninth commandment, and that
God would hear every word said" .5
do you believe this?" asked the Judge,
with tear glistening in his eyes and mis-
lips qulvering with emotion.
sYes, sir" said the child, with voice
and manner that showed her conviction Of
the truth was perfect.
"God bless you,. my child" said the
Judge, ''you have a good mother. This
witness Is competent" he continued:
"Were Lon trial for my life and innocent
of the charges against me, would pray
God for such witness as this. Let her be
examined" ,ruro1 geT ~ eT0T4IgggIq
She told her story with the simplicity Of
a child as she was, but there was direct
ness about it which carried conviction Of
its truth to every heart. She was rigidly
cross.examined. The counsel piled her
with infinite and ingenious questioning,
but she varied from her first statement in
nothing. The truth as spoken by that
child was sublime. Falsehood and perjury
had preceded her testimony. The prisoner
had entrenched himself in lies, until he
deemed himself impregnable. Witnesses
had falsifed facts in his favor,
and villainy had manufactured a
sham defense, but before her testimony
falsehood was scattered like chaff The
little child for whom the mother had pray
ed for strength to be given her to speak the
truth as it was before God, broke the cum
ming devices of matufed villainy In pieces
like potter's vessel, The, strength that
the mother had prayed for was given her,
the sublime and terrible simplicity-terri-
bic, / mean, to the prisoner and his per-
jured associates-with which she spoke
was like a revelation from God himself.