Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-11-29
A CHILD IN COURT.

10 lAOA All CJ y WlLucSS Vi the scene In
one OF our courts:
A little girl, nine years of age, was
offered rs a witness against a prisoner
who was on trial for felony committed
in her fathers house.
"Now, Emily" said the counsel for
the prisoner upon her being offered
as witness, "desire to know ifyou
understand The nature of an oath"
81 don't know what you mean"
was the simple answer.
"There your honor" said the coun-
sci, addressing the court, sis any
thing 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 us see" said the judge, "come
here, my daughter"
Assured by the kind tone and man
ner OF the judge, the child stepped
toward him, and looked confidently
up in his face, with calm, clear eye,
and in manner so artless and frank,
that it went straight to tho heart.
"Did you ever take an oath ?" in
CURED the judge. The little girl
stepped back with look of horror,
nd the red blood mantled in blush
YER her face and neck as che answer
d,
"No, Sir"
She thought he intended to inquire
if she ever bIasphemed
81 do not mean that said the Judge,
who saw her mistake. 81 mean, were
you ever a witness before ?"
No, Sir, | never was in court be-
fore" was the answer.
He handed her an open Bible.
"Do you know that book, my
daughter ?"
She looked at it and answered, eyes,
sir, it is tho Bible"
ado you ever read it ?" be asked.
eyes, sir, every evening"
"Can you tell me what the Bible
is ?" inquired the Judge.
at is tho word Of the Great God, ;"
she answered.
"WelI, place your hand upon this
Bible aud listen to what | say" and
he repeated slowly and solemnIy the
oath usually administrated to wit
nesses.
"Now, said tho judge" you have
sworn as witness, will you tell me
what will become Of you if you do
not tell the truth"
Il shall be shut up in the State
Prison" answered the child.
"Anytbing else" ASKED the Judge.
81 shall never go to heaven" said
the child.
GLOW do you know this" asked
the judge again.
The child took the Bible, and turn.
ing rapidly to the chapter containing
the commandments, pointed to the
injunction.
'Thou shalt not hear false witness
against thy neighbor"
81 learned that before | could read"
elias any one talked with you
about your being a witness in the
court here against this man ?" inquir-
ed the Judge.
eyes sir" she replied. My mother
heard they wanted me to be witness,
and last night she called me to tell
her the ten commandments, and then
we kneeled down togather, and she
prayed that | might understand how
wicked it was to bear false witness
against my neighbor. and that God
would help me, u little child, to tell
the truth as it was before Him. And
when | came up here with my father,
she kissed me and told me to remem-
Der the ninth commandment, and that
God would hear every word that |
said"
do you believe this 2" asked the
judge, while tear glistened in his
eye, and his lips quivered with emo
ton.
Eyes, sir" said the child, with
voice and manner that showed her
conviction of truth was perfect.
God bless You my child, said the
judge, you have a good mother.
This witness is competent" he con-
tinued
"Were on trial for my life, and
innocent of the charge against me, |
would pray to God to give me such
q witness as this. Let her be exam
ined."
She told her story with the sim
Plicity of a child, as she was, but
there was directness about it which
carried conviction in every heart.
She was rigidly cross-examined. The
counsel piled her with infinite and
ingenious questions, but she varied
in nothing. The truth as spoken by
the child was sublime. Falshood and
prejury had preceded her testimony.
The prisoner had intrenched himself
in lies until he deemed selfimpreg-
nable. Witness had falsifed, facts in
his favor, and villainy had manutac-
tured for him q sham defense. But
before Der testimony faIsehoods were
scattered like chaff. The little child,
for whom a mother had prayed for
strength to be given her to speak the
truth as it was before God, broke the
cunning devices Of matured viIlainy
to pieces like potter's vessel. The
strength that her mother had prayed
for was given her, and the sublime
and terrible simplicity-terrible, |
mean, to the prisoner and his associ-
ates-with which she spoke, was like
a revelation from God himself
Exchange
uA- Forty indictments have been
found in the United States Court. at
Memphis, Tenn, for holding office
contrary to the Fourteenth Amend
mont. Judge Porter, of the State
Circuit Court, one of the number, has
been arrested.
sag- Apron festivals are the latest