, 1872-06-06
A Child in court-The Power
Of Truth.

merly editor Of the Albany State Regis
ter. He was an eyewitness OF the scene
in one of the higher courts; M
A little girl, nine years of age, wa.
offered as witness against prisone,
who was on trial for q felony committed
in her fathers house.
"Now. Emily" said the counsel 70,
the prisoner. upon her being offered as
witness, :" I desire to know if you un.
derstand the nature of an oath?''
II don't know wha. you mean, !" was
the simple answer.
There, your honor" said tho coun.
sci. addressing the court, "is anything
further necessary to demonstrate the
validity Of my objection? This witness
should be rejected. She does not com.
prehend the nature Of an OATH"
Let us see, said the Judge. "Come
here. my daughter
Assured by the kind manner and tone
of the Judge. the child stepped toward
him, and looked confidently into his
face. with calm, clear ego. and in q
manner 30 artless and frank that it went
straight to the heart.
did you ever take an oath ?" inquir
ed the Judge. The child stepped back
with look Of horror, and the blood
mantled into blush all over her face
and neck. as she answered:
mo, SIR"
She thought he intended to inquire if
she ever blasphemed.
II don't mean that" said the Judge,
who saw her mistake Il mean, were
you ever witness before?"
"No, sir; never was in court b.
fore?" was the answer.
He handed her an open Bible.
"Do you know that book, nv daueh-
teri"
She looked at it and ansv.r.a, "Y...
sir: it is the Bible"
"Do you read it?" he asked.
"Yes, sir; every evening""
Can you tell us what the Bible is?"
inquired the Judge.
"lt is the word of the Great God, I"
she answered.
"well, place your hand upon this Bi-
BILE and listen to what say" and be re-
peated slowly and solemnly the oath
usually administered to witnesses.
"Now," said the Judge. "you have
sworn as witness; will you tell me
what will become of you if you do not
tell the truth p
"Ishall be shut up in State Prison. 4"
answered the child.
Anything else7" asked the Jud %.
,, II shall never 60 to heaven" she re-
piled.
"How do you know this?" asked the
Judge again.
The child took the Bible. and turning
rapidly to the chapter containing the
commandments. pointed to the injunc-
ton, "Thou shalt not bear false witness
against thy neighbor." ~ learned that
before could road"
Has any ono talked with you about
your being . witness in court against
this man?" inquired the Judge.
"Yes. SIR" she replied. my moth
er heard they wanted mo to be wit
ness, and last night she called me to tell
her the ten commandments. and then
we kneeled down together, and she
prayed that I might understand how
wicked it was to bear false witness
against my neighbor, and that God
---aA a--.r -, a.AAi---l;,I -. Ali ~. .
truth as it was before Him. And when
1 came up here with my father, she kiss.
ed me and told me to remember the
ninth commandment, and that God
would hear every word that I said"
"Do you believe this7" asked the
Judge, while q tear glistened in his eye,
and his lips quivered with emotion.
"Yes, SIR" said the child, with q
voice and manner that showed her con.
yiction of truth was perfect.
"God bless you. my child. " said the
Judge, "you have good mother. This
witness is competent" he continued.
"Were I on trial for my life. and limo.
cent of the charge against me. I would
pray to God for such witness - this.
Let her be examined" -
She told her story with the simplicity
of q child. as she was, but there was q
directness about it which carried convic.
ton to every heart. She was rigidly
cross The counsel Piled hel
with infinite and ingenious qnestions.
but she varied from her frst statement
in nothing. The truth ~ spoken by the
child was sublime. Falsehood and per.
jury had preceded her testimony. The
prisoner had entrenched himself in lies,
until he deemed himself impregnable.
Witnesses had falsi6sd facts in his f.
vor. and the villainy had manufacture d
sham d.feuss. BY: before hor testi.