The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-05-06
No.1S.
THE POWER OF TSQi'EHs.

A Iittlc girl nine years Of age,
was offered rs II witness against u
prisoner who was on trial for frl.
ony committed in her fathers
house.
Now EmIy,' said the counsel
for the prisoner, upon her being
offered ~ II witness. i desire to
know ifyou understand the nature
! Of an oath :?
! i don't know what YOU mean.
was the simple answer.
'Therc, your Honor said the
council, addressing the conrt, is
anything farther necessary to dc.
monstrate the validity Of my OBJ
lection this witness should be re.
.Icctcd. She docs not comprehend
the nature of an OATH
Let rs see, said tho judge
come here, my daHylter.'
Assured by tho kind tone and
manner Of the Judge, the child
stepped toward him, and looked
coniidngly up in bis face, with n
calH', clear eye. and in a manner
SO artlcss and frank, that went
straight to tho heart.
did you ovor take tho oath p
cnqnircd tho Judge. Tho little
girl stopped back with IL look of
horror, and the red blood mantlcd
IN II blush all ovor her face and she
answered
No, sir
Shc thought that he intended to
enquire if she ever blasphomcd.
Il do not mean that, said thc
Judge, who saw her mistake. 4
mean were you ever " witness be-
fIro p
mo, sir, mover was in court be-
fore, was tho answer.
lilo handed her The Bible opon,
'Do You know that book, nv
danghtcr?'
She looked at it and answered,
Yes, sir, it is tho Bible
'Do you cvcr read IL" he ask
cd.
les, sir, every evening"
Can you tell mo what tho Bible
lsT enquired the Judge.
1T is the word OF tho great God,
she answered..
well place your hand upon this
Bible and listen to what saw
and he repeated slowly and sol.
omnly the oath usually administer
od to witnesses.
Now said tho Judge, 'you have
sworn as II witness. Will You tell
me what will bclall you if you do
not tell tho truth p
Il shall bo shut up in tho States
prison, answered tho child.
Anything elso p asked tho
Judge.
Il shall mover 60 TO hcavcn,' she
replied.
'How do yon know this q asked
tho Judge again.
The child took The Bible, and
turning rapidly to the chapter con-
tanning tho Ton Commandments.
pointed TO the injunction, "Thou
shalt not bear false witness AGAINST
thy neighbor,' Il learned that bo.
fore | could read.
Has any ono talked with YOU
about yonr being Il witness in
court here against this man?' On.
quircd tho Judge.
Yes, SIR she replied. My mo-
thor heard they wanted mo to bo
witness, and Inst night she called
me 10 her room, and asked mo to
toll her the Ten Commandments
ana thon we Isnee|cd down toVoth.
CT ana sho prayed that l might
understand how wicked it was to
bear false witness against nv
nelghbor, ard that God would helm
mo, u little child to tell the .ruth
as IT. was before him. And when
L came up hero with father, she
Kissed me, and told me to rcmcm
ber the Ninth commandments and
mat God would hear every word
that ! said.'
80 you believe this p asked The
Judgo, while a tear glistcned in
h's cyc and his lips quiycred with
emotion.
sYcs, sir said tho child with 9
voice and manner that showed
her conviction Of its truth was por
feet.
GOD bless yon, my chiId,' sale
the Judge, you have good moth
or. This witness is competent,
he continued. Were | on u trim
for my life, and Innocent Of tho
charge against me, l would pra,
GOD for such witness rs this. -
Let her be examined.
Sho told hor story with tho sim
p''c''y OF child, as shc was, bu
there was u dircctncss about i
which carried conviction Of it.
ruth TO every heart. Sho wa:
rlgidly cross-oxamincd. Tho coun
sci piled her with infinite and in
genious questioning, but sbo va
riod from her first statement ir
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