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A little girl nine years of age was brought into court, and offered as a witness against a prisoner who was on trial for a crime committed in her father's house.
九岁的小女孩走上法庭，作为一个证人，她将要指证一个受审的罪犯，案件发生在她家里。
"Now, Emily," said the counsel for the prisoner, "I wish to know if you understand the nature of an oath?"
“现在，艾米莉，”罪犯的辩护律师说，“你了解誓言的本质吗？”
"I don't know what you mean," was the simple answer.
“我不懂你说的是什么意思，”小女孩简单地回答。
"Your Honor," said the counsel, addressing the judge, it is evident that this witness should be rejected. She does not understand the nature of an oath.
“法官大人，”律师对法官说，显然应该驳回这个证人，她不了解誓言的本质。
"Let us see," said the judge. "Come here, my daughter."
“让我们看一看，”法官说，“到这儿来，我的女儿。”
Assured by the kind tone and manner of the judge,
法官善良的语气和态度鼓励了小女孩，
the child stepped toward him, and looked confidingly in his face, with a calm, clear eye, and in a manner so artless and frank that it went straight to the heart.
她走向他，自信地看着他，眼神平静、清澈，态度天真、诚恳，打动人心。
"Did you ever take an oath?" inquired the judge.
“你起过誓吗？”法官询问。
The little girl stepped back with a look of horror; and the red blood rose and spread in a blush all over her face and neck,
小女孩后退了一步，显得很震惊；血液涌上来，脸和脖子都涨红了，
as she answered, "No, sir." She thought he intended to ask if she had ever used profane language.
回答道：“没有，先生。”她以为法官在问她是否说过亵渎神的话。
"I do not mean that," said the judge, who saw her mistake; "I mean were you ever a witness?"
“我不是那个意思，”看到她误会了，法官说，“我的意思是你是否做过证人？”
"No, sir; I never was in court before," was the answer.
“没有，先生；我以前从没来过法庭。”小女孩回答说。
He handed her the Bible open. "Do you know that book, my daughter?"
法官递给她一本打开的《圣经》。“你知道这本书吗，我的女儿？”
She looked at it and answered, "Yes, sir; it is the Bible."
她看了看，回答道：“是的，先生；这是《圣经》。”
"Do you ever read in it?" he asked.
“你读过吗？”他问。
Yes, sir; every evening.
是的，先生；每天早晨。
