For Christmas

Words: Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!, Rev. Joseph Mohr, 1816
Translator: A. P. Howard, Date Unknown.

Music: "Stille Nacht," Franz Xaver Gruber (1787-1863), circa 1818

Source: Frank Landon Humphreys, ed., Christmas Carols. New York: Novello Ewer & Co., 1900, p. 22. Text only; no music.

1. Holy night! Peaceful Night!
All is dark, save the light
Yonder where they sweet vigils keep,
O'er the Babe who in silent sleep
Rests in heav'nly, heav'nly peace,
Rests in heav'nly, heav'nly peace.

2. Holy night! Peaceful night!
Only for shepherds' sight;
Came Blest visions of angel throngs,
With their loud Hallelujah songs,
Full of heav'nly, heav'nly joy,
Full of heav'nly, heav'nly joy.

3. Holy night! Peaceful night!
Child of Heav'n, O! how bright
Thou didst smile on us when Thou wast born;
Blest indeed was that happy morn,
Full of heav'nly, heav'nly joy,
Full of heav'nly, heav'nly joy.

Note:

The A. P. Howard referred to above may be Alonzo P. Howard (1838-1902). He provided the music to several carols found in Carols Old and Carols New, edited by Rev. C. L. Hutchins, and was the editor of the volume Carols for Christmas, Easter and Other Festivals (Boston: E. P. Dutton & Co., 1867, 42 pages).

Other results by A. P. Howard retrieved from Google Books include:

• Ten Christmas Carols, 1876

• Eleven Christmas Carols, 1877

• Seven Christmas Carols, 1886

• Selected Christmas Carols, 1892

No scanned copies were available.

The "American Literary Gazette and Publishers' Circular" circa 1866-7, referred to a volume title "Carols for Christmas, Easter, Epiphany, and Other Occasions" edited by A. P. Howard, consisting of 42 pages, and "Beautifully printed, with illuminated cover."

Dwight's Journal of Music (Vol. XXXVII, Sept. 29, 1877, p. 107), contained an advertisement from Oliver Ditson, Boston, advertising a volume titled Carols for Christmas and Easter, described as "about 20 Carols, including one for Epiphany." On the same page there was an advertisement for Bramley and Stainer, Table of Contents - Bramley and StainerChristmas Carols — New and Old, from Carol I., "God rest you, Merry Gentlemen," to Carol XLII, "The Child Jesus in the Garden." This represents the First and Second Series only.