The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1872-06-27
The Psvvsr Of rrstA.

| The Power of TEuth.
witnessed a short time ago, in one
of our higher courts, q beautiful illus
tratiOn of the power Of truth. "A little
girl nine years of age, was offered as a
witness against prisoner. who was
| OH trial for felony committed in her
fathers house. &
"Now Emily,s said the counsel, for
a witness, Il desire to know the nature
of an oath"
Il don't know what you mean" was
| the simple answer.
There, your Honor" said thu coui-
sci addressing the court, ''Is anything
further necessary to demonstrate the
validity of my objection. The Wit
ness should be rejected. She does not
know the nature ct an oath"
'I4et us see" sand the Judge. The
child stepped toward him, aud looked
confidingiy up in his face, with Il calm
clear eye. and manner 50 artless and
frank that it went straight to his heart.
ssDid YOU ever take an oath?' in
qnired the Judge. The little girl step
ped back with q look of horror. and
the red blood mantled in blush all
| over her face and neck, as che answer
| ed, mo SIR" She thought he intended
10 inquire if she had blasphemed.
II do not mean that said the Judge
who now saw his mistake, II mean
were you ever witness beiore!s
mo sir: was never in court be-
FORE was the answer.
He handed her an open Bible, "Do
you know that book, my daughter-' {
She looked at 1t, and answered "Yes
sir, il is the Bible"
.'Do you ever read ii.
Yes sir, every evening
aCAn yx0n tell me what the Bible
| is 2" inquiredlsthe judge
"lt 10 the word Ofssfhe great God, :. !.
she answered.
well place your hand upon this
Bible, and listen to what have to
say and he repeated slowly and SOL
emnly, the oath usually administered
to witnesses-"Now,1 said he, 'You
have sworn as witness; will You tell
ME what will befall you if yon do moi
tell the truth 2"
81 shall be shut up in States prison.
answered the child.
anything else?' inquired the
Judge.
4 shall not go to heaven" .ie am
swcred.
"How do you know this I" Asked the
Judge. a
The child took the Bible, aud turn
ing rapidly to the chapter containing,
ing the Commandments, pointed to the
injunction: ssThou shalt not bear false
witness against thy lleighbor." lcaru.
ed that said she, before | could
read.
"lIas any one been talking TO YOU
about beng witness in court here
against this man 7" inquired the Judge.
Yes sir. she answered. My moth
er heard that they wanted mc as a wit
ness. and last night she called me 10
her room, and asked me TO Tell her the
ten Commandments, and she prayed
that might understand how wicked
ii was TO bear false witness against my
nciglibor, and that God would lielpiHc
a little child. 10 tell the truth as il
was before Him, AMI when ] came up
here with father, she kissed me. and
told me to remember the ninth coW-
mandmcnt, aud that God would hear
every word that / said.
''Do YOU believe thisi asked the
Judge while a tear glistened in his
eye. and his lip quivered with emo-
ton.
'Yes sir said the child. witt, ~
voice and manner that showed her con-
viction OF the truth was perfect.
''God bless you my child" said the
Judge: "YOu have good mother.
This witness is competent, he contin-
ued. .Werci 4 on trial for my life,
would pray God, for such Il witnes. as
this. Let her bc examined.
She told her story with the simplic-
i ity of a child, as she was. She was
rlgidiy cross-examincd. Thcacounscl
piled her with infinite questions. but
shc varied from her first statement ID
nothing. The truth as spoken by the
little child, was sublime. FalsehooA
and perjury had proceeded her testi-
mony.
The prisoner had entrcnched HIM
self in lies until he deemed
hiinaclf iinpregnable. 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 chat. The
little child for whom the mother had
prayed for strength to speak the truth
as it was before God, broke the cum
ming device OF maturcd villainly like
potter's vessel. Thc strength that her
mother had prayed for, was given her,
aud the terrible simplicicity (telrible
l mean to the prisoner and his pevjur-
ed associates s)with which she spoke.
was like a revelation from God bim-
sells. II. Hamaaoad.