Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1867-07-27
Interesting Story.

into court as q witness against prisoner who
vas OH trial for crime committed in her
fathers house.
"Now, Emily" sad the counsul, for the
prisoner, upon her being offered as witness,
I" I2desire to know If you understand the ma
ture Of an OATH"
~ don't know what you mean" ,"-swas the
simple answer.
/" Your Honor" said the counsel ad-
dressing tho Court, this witness should
be rejected. She docs not know the nature of
an oath"
I" Let us see," sa,d the Judge" Come
here, my daughter" Assured by the kind
tone and manner of the Judge, the child step.
ped toward him, and looked trustingly in his
face, with calm, clear eye, and in manner
so artless and frank that it went straight to- the
heart Did you ever take an oath ?"' in
quired the Judge. The little girl stepped
back with look of horror, and the red blood
manted in blush all over her face and neck,
as she answered.
mo, sir" She thought he intended to
inquire if she had ever basphemed:
/" do not mean that" said the Judge,
who saw her mistake, "I mean were you ever
a witness before z" =. .;,,s
was the answer So
Z He handed her the Bible, open. e~Do you
know that book my daughter 2"
She looked nt it, and answered, "&os, sir,
it is the Bible"
EDO you ever read it 2" he asked,
Yes, sir every evening"
" Can you tell nc what the Bible ,is?" in.
quircd the Judge.
+" 1t is the word of the great God" she an
swercd.
Well, place your hand upon this Bible,
and listen to what say;" and hc repeated
slowly and soicmnly the oath usually taken by
witnesses. Now" said the Judge, "yon
have been sworn as witness; will you tell
nc what il'happcn to you if you do not tell
the truth p
81 shall be shut up in the State Prison" !"
answered tho child
Anything elsc?" asked the Judge
shall not go to heaven" she replied
How do you know this 7" asked the
Judge again.
The child tool the Bible, and turning rap.
idly to the chapter containing the coAlmnnd-
shall not bear false witness against thy neigh
bor.' learned that" she said, 4" before |
could read"
tloN "hy oit laIhcu tp you iDnuI DclnS
witness in court here against this man?" in
quired the Judge.
Yes, sir" she replied. MY mother
and last night she called me to her room aud
asked me to tell her the ten commandments
and then we kneclcd down together, and she
prayed that might understand how wicked
it was to bear false witness against my neigh
Inr ! kl>,& i I. Il ...1 Il.
child. to tell the truth as it was before him
And when / came up here with father, size
kissed me, and told me to remember tho ninth
commandment. aud that God would k-sr eve
ry word that | said"
while a tear glistcned in his eye and his lips
quivcred with emotion.
:. God bless you, my child" said tho
Judge, "you have good mother This wit
ness is competent" he continued. & Were
! on trial for my life and innocent of the
charge against me, would pray God for such
a witness as this. Let her be examined"
She told her story with the simplicity Of n
child, as she was, but there was r,irectness
about it WHICH carried conviction of its truth
to every heart She was rigidly crosscd-cx-
amincd The counsel piled hcr'with many
."Scu'ous uueSI'ohihSS, Out Snc varied from
her first statement in nothing. The truth as
spoken by that little child was snhlime -
Falschood and perjury had gone before tcsti
mony. The prisoner intrcnchcd hiusef in
lies until lie deemed himself safe. But be-
fore her testimony falschool was scattered
like chatf. The little child, for whoma moth
er had prayed for strength to be given her to
speak the truth as it was before God broke
the cunning device Of mature v!lainy to pieces
like pntter's vessel. The strength that her
mother prayed for was given her, and the sub.
lime and terrible simplicity (tcrribIe, j mean,
to the prisoner and his pcrjued associates
with which she spoke was like revelation
from God himself ChHdren's Uour.