New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-01-19
The Truthful Witness.

A little girl, nine years of age, was
offered as. witness against prisoner,
who was on trial for a felony com
mitted in her fathers house.
"Now, Emily" said the counsel for
the prisoner, upon her being offered
as a witness, Il desire to know if you
understand the nature of an oath"
al don't know what you mean,"
was the simple answer.
There, your honor, said the coun
sci, addressing the court, lis there
anything further necessary to demon
strate the validity of my objection! !
This witness should be rejected; she
does not comprehend the nature of an
OATH
Let me see," said the judge.
"Come here, my daughter
Assured by the kind tone and NAH
ner of the judge, the child stepped to-
ward him and looked up confidingly in
his face, with calm, clear eye, and in
a 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 tho red blood
mantled in blush all over her face
and neck, as she answered.
4" No, sir"
She thought he meant to inquire if
she had ever blasphemed.
Il do not mean that" said the judge,
who saw his mistake. 81 mean were
you ever witness before r.
mo, sir, l was never in court be-
FORE" was the answer.
He handed her the Bible open.
"Do you know that book, my
daughter :"
She looked at it aud answered,
6 Yes, sir, it is the Bible"
"Do you ever read it ~ he asked.
Yes, sir, every evening""
Can you tell me what the Bible
is ?" inquired the judge.
ut 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 selemnly the
oath usually administered to witnesses.
Now" said the Judge, "you have
sworn as a witness; viii 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.
Any thing else ? asked the Judge
" shall never go to heaven" she re-
piled.
"How do you know this 2 p" asked
the Judge, again
The child took the Bible, and turn
ing rapidly to the chapter containing
the commandments, pointed to the in.
junction, {" Thou shalt not bear false
witness against thy neighbor." 81
learned that before could read.''
Has any one talked with you abou
your being witness in court herr
against this mani inquired thu
Judge.
Yes, sir" shereplied; my mothe
heard they wanted me to be wit
.esss, and Last night she eallad me q
her room, and asked me to tell her tn
Ten commandments, and then W,
kneeled down together, and she prhye,
that might understand how wicked
was to bear false witness against m,
neighbor, and that God would he'll
me, q little child, to tell the truth as
was before him. And when came u
here with father, she kissed me, an
told me to remember the ninth com
mandment, and that God would hea
every word that / said" ga
EDO you believe this {" asked til
J Judge, while a tear glistened in hi
) eye, and his lip quiyered with emotion
, Yes, sir" said the child, with
} voice that showed her conviction Of il
. truth was perfect.
, "God bless you, my child" said tn
Q Judge, ''you have a good mother. TIL
a witness is competent" he continued
: s'Were ] on trial for my life, and inn,
! cent Of the charge against me, | woul
: pray God for such a witness as thi
Let her be exanaiaed,n
{ She toldher story with the simpliciI
g of child, as she was, but there was
Y directness about it which carried COZ
+ yiction Of its truth TO every heart. 81
& was rigidly cross examined. II
e counsel piled her with infinite and il
/ genious questionings, but she varis
n from her first statements in ncthinl
! The truth, so spoken by that little chit
v was Sublime. Falsehood and perjul
q had preceded her testimony. ~
/. prisoner had intrenched himself wi
e lies, till he deemed himself imprel
" neble. But before her testimol
! falsehood was scattered like cha
% The child, for whom a mother had pra,
k cd for strength to be given her TO apel
i ahe truth as Il was before God, brol
=, the cunning devices Of matured v
% lainy to pieces like q potter's vess.
b, The strength that her mother pray
IF fer was given her. and the sublime sil
It plicity--terrible, Imean, 70 the prise
1r or and his asaocietes-wii which q
"a spoke was Ike revelation from G
at himself.
a Massachusetts, lady bought q baby
n Philadelphia the other day and adopted
2 for az reason except that II resembied
st infant 81 heE eRn.
e. Dufing 1867. ffom JandAfy until Chr
rfstH neg. ...@.T....4