Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-12-17
VOL. 53--WH0LE NO. 2,65.
THE POET MURDERER.
SPECIMEN VERSE ny ANDREW TRACY

Further evidence that great VII 10 Madness
stran geiy 10 allied" was furnished 10 the person
Of young Andrew Tracy, who was executed at
smeihpOrt, Mexican county. Pa, on Thursday.
December 4ih, 1879, for the inexpiieabls murder
Of his cousin whom he loved The following
specimen extract is taken from his poem written
in the shadow Of the gailows ii
They err who deemt tho cHptives lot confined
To the drear scenes within his prison walls
For oft times to the dungeons occupant
The largest, noblcst freedom has heen gives
That o. the souls communion with its God.
Eternal Father. source Of light and truth,
To Thee my spirit rises, and with Thee 4iI
Confers, rs with its friend o'erj,yed to feel
II thus can soar aioft and lose itself
Amid serene. celestial contemplations
By Thee Inspired to feel Thou dost not scorn
lta fervsnt rapture Great Or giual.
Maker and Lord Of all created things,
| Thy glory hls my soul with wondcsmcnt
wisdom and Justice. majesty aud power,
Love, goodkess mercy. are Thy attributes,
And all Thy attributes are infinite.
Compared to Thee, how mortal. finite man,
Despite his pride, sinks into nothipgnessl
Thou all peryadng essence, uncreate
| Soul Of the Universe 10 whom our thoughts,
Actions and words are known whose seepl.sI
eye
Discerns all time--past, prcsent and TO come
Whose will u is that guides and regulates
The work Of Natures vast. harmonious plan.
vi hat wonder that my spirit should be rapt
In alteration and In love Of Thee
What wonder that my tongue should utter forth
In strains, however weak its notes Of praise !
Then be Thy name, God. revered and blest
Throughout a Nations tn the end Of time.
Let man, the creature Of Thy band, return
I p. L.. l. H. II l.. l.ls
For every benefit by Thee conferred
But, more than augbt beside, for that bright hope
hat cheering promise Of an endless life,
| Rtplete with bliss, the guerdeon Of the good.
Nv heart goes forth in thanks for this glad trust
This living faith, which Thou 10 me hast given.
II Is my life. my all seek no NOR.
thank Thy b, uhty not my own deserts;
These have been small ye' greater far. perhaps
Before Thine eyes, than in the sight Of men,
so mueh-oi good. we'll as III. though welded
Prom mortal sight. to Thee Is visible.
Mans guide To Judgment ia the exterior seeming
Thine the interior reality.
Man, through the sbortness Of his visions range
Is oft deceived but Thou. Almighty. never.
As we'll might man. from CARING on the sea,
| Think to describe the wonders Of its dep hs,
| As 10 unfold, from outward semblance.
Prom words or acts, the secrets OF the heart.
Bot Thy omniscience Knows no mysteries;
The heart to Toee is as an open book
Most clearly writ; with all It's characters
Plsirly apparent as the noon OF day.
what doth u matter. then, though my deserts
Are. BY my iellow morias, counted small,
lfIhy superior judgment, always just,
From theirs doth diher what, though men con
demn me,
II Thou dost noti What, though they be my foei
II Thou art still my friendl o, what, l ask,
| What doth Il matter. though they call me guilty
W Thou regardest mo as innocen'
And that Thou dost, my soul Is satithed.
For never, never yet, has guilt escaped
The swift and veng.ful arrows Of remor's
IL In Thy sight, was wicked thing,
Thou, fount OF Justice, woulds' have made M
feel
sense OF wiekednessi but Thou hsst not
ihou hast enticn'd me WIN mat priceless gut
a peaceful conscience' and, increasingly,
Thou speakest to my soul IN soothing tones,
A. friend 70 friend might IN advefsiiy.
o. Best Of friends How potentn rhy isve
10 comfort ana sustain ny weaker paN
ihroush an esthS HIS, now poweress 10 hafl
the soul.
ihou oost not iook upon me as upon
GRIMM upio'.uHae hm
but suen Ies mua oompasno1 neer deserts
nne v'Als Of iny anger tnou oost nold
ror sinners hsar''ssa' harasnea and oonhrmed'
Aud hypocrites. the wo'st Of evil-doers
Who oft. despite their dark AMI hidden deeds,
Before their fellows hear an upright mien,
And rcputa for justice nn'mnairsd.
Such are the criminals whom Thou dost brand
With condemnation not the we'll disposed,
Who strive 10 hesp Thy la~s. aud onls err
Through lack Of neediul strength--in 81 ch al
these
No single fall car e'er obii'era'e
From out 1hy book their v'rtuous actions past.
Thou dost regard the intent. which, howe'er good
May sometimes fail because the hesh Is weak
As Thy words tell ~, Him that thus hath erred,
u psnitsnt, Thy ail-forgiving love
Upliits, and IN better sphere than this
Adorns with virtues most resplendsnt crown.
Thus bath II ever been, Almighty Judge,
Before Thy grand tribunals Thou hast ne'sr
Despied the eontrite hssrt, Thy law contains
The tuin. the e<tenoe and The true perfection
Of justice but alas for humsn XII d
We're these, thy laws, less m.rciful than lust.
Thou hast observed my life in all It's ways,
And, In Thy holy prcsenoe, aver
That iis uuchanging purpose eer hath been
To gain, by universal righteousness
l y.srnsd to ipllow. shaping every thought
How. thu, disposed. l rruss'sd on nv course,
,esrlns .hs iirll.ss sa,sh rny sovereign will
toi,sS meath bsrdsps not from ross f'i.,
| rk., Al. IL, a. ..r,h .h,,td h. - -