Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-06-30
Little Stories.
'Titc Power o. Truth.

The following beautiful Illustration
of the simplicity and power Of truth is
told by an eyewitness Of the scene in
one Of the higher courts
A little girl nine years Of age was
offered as a 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 q witness, i desire to know if you
understand the nature Of an oath ??
4 don't know what You mean. was
simple answer
There, your Honor said the coun-
sci, addressing the Court, is anything
further necessary to demonstrate the
validity of my objection This wit
ness should be rejected She does not
even understand 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 confdingly
up in his face with q calm, clear eye,
and in a manner so artless and frank,
that it went to the Judges heart.
Did you ever take an oath ? asked
the Judge,
The little girl stepped back with a
look of horror, and the red blood
mantled in blush all over her face as
she answered:
NO, sir.
She thought he intended to inquire
it she had ever blasphemed;
i did not mean that said the
Judge, who saw her mistake; Il mean
were you ever a witness before ?
NO, sir | never was i'll court be-
fore.
He handed her the Bible, open, and
asked do you know that book, my
child 2
She looked at it and said: Yes, SIT;
II is the Bible
DO you ever read it {? asked the
Judge,
Yes, sir ; every evening.
Can you tell me what the Bible is 2
he asked.
1T is the word of the great God
she replied.
Well, place your hand upon this
Bible and listen to what | say ) and
he repeated slowly and solemnIy the
oath usually administered to witnesses.
Now said the Judge, you have
sworn as witness. Will you tell me
what will befall you if you do not tell
the truth 2
4 shall be shut up in State Prison,
answered the child.
Anything else?
Il shall never 60 to heaven, she re-
piled.
How do you know this 2 asked the
Judge again.
The child took the Bible, and turn
ing to the chapter containing the Com
mandments, pointed to the injunction.
Thou shalt not bear false witness
against thy neighbor, saying: /
learned that before | could read
Has any one talked with you about
your being a witness in court against
this man 2 asked the Judge
Yes, sir. My mother heard they
wanted me to be q witness, and last
night she called me to her room and
asked me to tell her the ten command
ments and then we kneeled down
together, and she prayed that | might
understand how wicked it was to bear
false witness, aud that God would
help me, little child, to tell the truth
as it was before Him. And when /
came up here with father, she kissed
me and told me to remember the
Ninth Commandment, and that God
would hear every word | said
DO you believe this |! inquired the
Judge, while a tear glistened in his
eye, and his lip quivered with visible
emotion.
Yes, sir said the child, with a
voice and manner which showed that
her conviction of it's truth was perfect
God bless you, my child said the
Judge, you have good mother
This witness is competent he con-
tinued. Were l on trial for my life,
and innocent of the charge against
me, / would pray God for such a
witness as this. Let her be examined. ;
She told the story with the simple
ity of a child, as she was, but there
was directness about it which car
ried conviction of its truth to every
heart.
She was rigidly cross-examined the
counsel piled her with infinite and in