Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-10-19
flistellaneous.
Simplicity of Truth.

our high courts, beautiful illustration or
the simplicity of truth:
A little girl.uiue years of age, was offered
as witness against prisoner who was on
trial for felony committed in her fathers
house
SHOW, kpily," said the counsel for the
prisoner, upon her being offered as Wit
ness, 81 desire to understand if you know
the nature of an oath ?'
81 dou't know what you mean," was the
simple answer.
"There, your honor," said the counsel,
addressing the court, "is anything farther
necessary to demonstrate the validity of my
objections ? This witness should be reject
ed She does not comprehend the nature
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 towards him
and looked confidently up in his face with
a calm, clear eye, and in manner so art
less aud frank it went straight to the heart.
"Did you ever take an oath ?" enquired
the Judge
The little girl stepped back with look Of
horror, and the red blood mautled 10 blush
all over her face and neck, as she answered
"No sir" She thought he intended to en-
quire if she had ever blasphemed.
81 do not mean that" said the Judge,
who saw her mistake. ~ mean were you
ever witness before 2"
He handed her the bible open.
"Do you know that book, my daughter ~
She looked at it aud answered, eyes, sir,
it is the Bible"
"Do you ever read it?" he asked.
"Yes, sir every evening"
"Can you tell me what the Bible is 2"
"It is the word of the Great God," she
answered
"Well, place your hand upon this Bible
and listen to what l say" and he repeated
slowly and solemn y the oath usually admin
istered 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 2"
81 shall be shut up in the State prison, /"
answered the child.
"Any thing else ?" asked the Judge.
81 shall never go to Heaven"
Chow do you know p asked the Judge,
again.
The child took the Bible, and turning
rapidly to the chapter containing the CON-
maudments, pointed to the injunction,
"Thou shalt not bear false witness against
thy neighbor." 81 learned that" she
said, "before I could read"
"Has auy one talked with you about your
beiug a witness in court here against this
mau? 2" euquired the Judge.
eyes, 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 commandments,
and then we kneeled down together, and
she prayed that | might understand how
wicked it was to bear false witness against
my neighbor, aud that God would help me,
little child, to tell the truth as it was be-
fore Him. And when / came here with
father, she kissed me and told me to re-
member the ninth commandment, and that
God would hear every word l said" "
"Do you believe this ?" asked the Judge,
with tear glistening in his eye and his lips
quivering with emotion.
"Yes, 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. The
witness is competent" he continued
"Were | on trial for my life, and innocent
of the charges against me, 1 would pray
God for such a witness as this. Let her be
examined"
She told her story with the simplicity of
child as she was, but there was direct
ness about it which carried conviction of
its truth to every heat. She was rigidly
cross-examined. The counsel piled her
with Infinite and ingenious questioning, but
she varied from her first statement in moth
ing. The truth as spoken by that child
was sublime. Falsehood and perjury had