Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-12-24
The Young Wftne...


offered as a witness against a prisoner,
who was on trial for felony committed
in her fathers house.
snow, Emily" said the counsel for
the prisoner, upon her being offered as a
witness, II desire to know If you under
stand the nature of an oath?"
II don't know what you mean," was
the simple answer.
There, your honor" said the counsel,
addressing the court, sis anything nec-
essary to demonstrate the validity of my
objection? The witness should be re-
jected. She does not comprehend the
nature of an olth."
"Let US see," said the judge. "Come
here, my daughter
Assured by the kind tone and manner
of the judge, the child stepped toward
him, with a calm, clear eye, and in a
manner SO artless and frank, 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
bloom mantled in blush all over her
face and neck, as she answered-"No,
sirI"
She thought he intended to inquire if
she had ever blasphemed.
Il do not mean that, - said the judge,
1 who saw her mistake; 81 mean, were
you ever a witness before?'
mo, sir; was never in court before, J"
was the answer.
| He handed her the Bible open.
''Do you know that book, my daugh-
ter?n
She looked at it and answered-yes
.'Do You ever read it5n he asked.
"Yes, sir;-every evening"
"Can you tell me what the Bible is?
inquired the judge.
'.It 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
sworn as witness; and will you tell me
what will befall you if you do not tell
the truth?"
81 shall be shut up in prison." an
swered the child.
Anything else?" asked the judge.
81 shall never go to heaven" she
replied. j. 49,, ..r th,. o., ..,,sa t,s
Judge again.
The child took the Bible, and turning
rapidly to the chapter containing the
commandments, pointed to the injunc-
ton" Thou shall not bear false witness
against thy neighbor." a. learned that
before I could read"
HAS any one talked with you about
your being a witnes 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 me to her room,
and asked me to tell her the Ten Com
l.andments; 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 it was. before him.
And when 1 came up here with father,
she kissed me, and told me to remember
the Ninth Commandment, and that God
would hear every word that L said.
"Do you believe thisw asked the
Judge, while a tear glistened in his eye,
and his lip quivered with emotion.
"Yes, sir,h said the child, with voice
and manner that showed her conviction
of its 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 limo
cent of the charge against me, L would
pray God for such witnesses AS this. Let
her be examined"
She told her story with the simplicity
of child, as she was; but there was a
direetness about il which carried convic-
ton of its truth to every heart. Sne was
rigidly cross-eXamined. The cJunsel
Piled her with infinite and ingenious
questionings, but she varied from her
first statement in nothing. The truth,
as spoken by that little child was sub
lime. Falsehocd and perjury had pre-
ceded her testimony. The prisoner had
intrenched himselfin lies, till he deemed
himself impregnable. Witnesses had
-falsified facts in his favor, and villainy
had manufactured for him sham de-
fence But before her testimony, false
hood was scattered like chaff The little
child, for whom mother had prayed for
strength to be given her to speak the
truth as it was before God, broke the
cunning devices of matured villainy to
pieces like potter's vessel. The strength
that her mother prayed for was given
her, and the sublime and terrible sim
plicity-terrible, mean. to the prisoner
and his associates-with which she
spoke, was like revelation from God
himself Shining Light.