Hark, from the sky a call, earnest and deep;
Softly the silent lake reflects the sound;
Sweetly it sinks into the woods around;
Then drops, like faithful duty done, to sleep.
Fell ever on the ear such silvery spray?
How quick to flood the air; how quick to die away.
'Tis but the " Angelus" — the signal of a bell.
Aye, true; but who are signalled thus, and why?
Know ye what makes yon iron throat to swell?
Listen, and I will tell.
Earth interlocking once with the deep sky,
Eternity was born Child to the hour;
Men saw the cradle of Infinity.
Such, is the burden of that loud outcry
Which leaps into the air from yonder tower.
At sunrise, noon, and sunset going forth
O'er mountain chain and sea, circling the earth,
Leaping from spire to spire, the " Angelus" is heard.
Meek worshippers, low bending at the word,
With reverent knee, and with glad unison
Of heart and lip, repeat the angel's benison.
A Gabriel in the belfry gives the key,
Three silver peals repeated, three times three.
Arrested by the summons, loving millions pray.
These are the words that all in secret say;
" God's Angel came, with word and sign,
To Mary, of a Child Divine.
Hail, Mary, Full of grace; and hail,
The Fruit of thy blest womb:
God's Mother, pray for us this day,
And when our death shall come.

" Lo me, the Handmaid of the Lord;
Be it according to thy word.
Hail, Mary, Full of grace; and hail,
The Fruit of thy blest womb:
God's Mother, pray for us this day,
And when our death shall come.

" The Word Divine did flesh assume,
And made this woeful world his home.
Hail, Mary, Full of grace; and hail,
The Fruit of thy blest womb:
God's Mother, pray for us this day,
And when our death shall come."

The chime that seemed to idlers on the shore
A fairy note descending from the skies,
To please the sentimental ear, far otherwise
Fell in the circle where, at the same hour,
Low bent the brethren at Mary's shrine. All rose:
To them its clangour was the sign to close
Their silent meditation with the Angel's Prayer.