the fifth which has been called for by the favour of the public, has been added the greater portion of another series, published three years later, under the title of "Town Lyrics."

LONDON, August, 1857.

Voices from the Crowd.

THE WATCHER ON THE TOWER.

"WHAT dost thou see, lone watcher on the tower?
Is the day breaking? comes the wish'd-for hour?
Tell us the signs, and stretch abroad thy hand
If the bright morning dawns upon the land."

"The stars are clear above me, scarcely one Has dimm'd its rays in reverence to the sun; But yet I see, on the horizon's verge,

Some fair, faint streaks, as if the light would surge."

"Look forth again, O watcher on the tower—
The people wake, and languish for the hour;
Long have they dwelt in darkness, and they pine
For the full daylight which they know must shine."

"I see not well-the morn is cloudy still.-
There is a radiance on the distant hill;
Even as I watch the glory seems to grow;
But the stars blink, and the night breezes blow."

B

"And is that all, O watcher on the tower?
Look forth again; it must be near the hour.
Dost thou not see the snowy mountain-copes,
And the green woods beneath them on the slopes?"

"A mist envelopes them; I cannot trace
Their outline; but the day comes on apace.
The clouds roll up in gold and amber flakes,
And all the stars grow dim. The morning breaks.”

"We thank thee, lonely watcher on the tower;
But look again; and tell us, hour by hour,
All thou beholdest. Many of us die
Ere the day comes; oh, give us a reply!"

"I see the hill-tops now; and Chanticleer
Crows his prophetic carol on mine ear;—
I see the distant woods and fields of corn,
And Ocean gleaming in the light of morn."

"Again-again-O watcher on the tower!
We thirst for daylight, and we bide the hour,
Patient, but longing. Tell us, shall it be
A bright, calm, glorious daylight for the free?"

"I hope, but cannot tell. I hear a song,
Vivid as day itself, and clear and strong,
As of a lark-young prophet of the noon-
Pouring in sunlight his seraphic tune."

"What doth he say, O watcher on the tower? Is he a prophet? Doth the dawning hour