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Rh A thousand twinkling stars are gently gleaming, The world is hush'd, and all is laid to rest.

Save one, who wakeful in her lonely dwelling, Of Juda born, a stem of Jesse's rod, A virgin pure, all others far excelling, Uplifts her heart in tranquil prayer to God.

The while she prays, behold the silence broken, She starts, a look of fear o'erspreads her face; She hears, till then to mortal ears unspoken, Those words of love, "Hail, Lady, full of grace!

Fear not, the Lord is with thee; thou art chosen The Virgin Mother of thy God to be; And many a heart in sin and guilt now frozen, Shall melt beneath the sunbeam born of thee."

O Spouse of God, O Queen of earth and heaven, O holy Mother of the Incarnate Word, In meekest accents is thine answer given, "Behold the willing handmaid of the Lord."

