Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-08-28
MisfrIIaneoms.
CD
The Power of Truth.

\ little girl, nine years of age, was offer
ed as witness against 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 wit
ness, Il desire to know if you understand
the nature of an oath p
L don't know what you mean,' was the
simple answer.
There, your honor said the counsel,
addressing the court. is anything further
necessary to demonstrate the validity of
my objection This witness should be re-
jected. She does not comprehend the na-
ture of an oath.'
Let US see, said the Judge. Come here
my daughter
Assured by :he kind tone and manner of
the judge, the child stepped toward him,
and looked confidently up in his face with
saim, clear eye, and in manner so art
less and frank that it went straight to the
heart
Did you ever take an oath p inquired
the judge.
The little girl stepped back with look of
horror, and the red blood mantled in a
blush all over her face rs she answered:
No, sir
She thought he intended to inquire if she
had ever blasphemed.
Il do not mean that, said the Judge, who
saw her mistake. Il mean were you ever
a witness before p
No, sir; l never was in court before, ,
was the answer.
He had the Bible open.
DO you know that book, my daughter p
She looked at it, and answered:
Yes, sir, it is the Bible
DO you ever read it p he asked
Yes, sir, every evening"
Can you tell me what the Bible is p
queried the judge.
1t is the word of the great God she an
swered.
We'll, place your hand on this Bible, and
listen to what 1 say ; and he repeated
slowly and solemnly the oath usually ad-
ministered to witnesses.
Now said the judge, you have sworn
as witness. Will you tell me what will be-
fal you if you do not tell the truth q
I shall be shut up in States prison., an
swered the child.
Anything else ?; asked the judge.
4 shall never go to heaven she replied.
'How do you know this p asked the
judge.
Tle child took the Bible, and turning
rapidly to the chapter containing the COM
maniments, pointed to the Injunction,
Thou shalt not bear false witness against
thy neighbour Il learned that before |
could read
Has any one talked to you about being
n witness in court here against this man p
inquired the judge.
Yes, SIR she replied My mother
heard they wanted me for witness, and
last night she called me to tell her the Ten
Commandments, ,and then we kneeled down
together and she prayed that l might un-
derstand how wicked it was to bear false
witness against my neighbOr, and that God
would help me, little child, to tell the
truth rs it was before nim. And when
came up here with father, she kissed me
and tod me to remember the Ninth Com
mandment, and that GoG would hear every
word that | said.
DO you believe this y asked the judge,
while tear glistened in his eye and his lip
quivered with emotion.
Yes, SIR said the child, with a voice
and manner that showed her conviction
of its truth was perfect.
God bless you, my child said the judge,
you have good mother. This witness is
he continued. Were L on
trial for my life, and innocent of the charge
against me, would pray God for such wit
nesses as this. Let her be examined
She told the story with simplicity of
child, as she was, but there was direct
ness about it which carried-conviction of
its truth to every heart. She was rigidly
The counsel piled her
with infinite and ingenious questioning,
but she varied in nothing. The truth as
spoken by the little child was sublime.
Falsehood and perjury had preceded her
testimony. The prisoner had entrenched
himself in lies, till he deemed himself inn
pmgnable. Witnesses had falsifed facts