Willy Reske (1897-1991), the arranger of this traditional French carol, was a German-born convert to the church who emigrated from Königsberg to New York City in 1926. He was a professional organist, playing for 33 years for St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, while also serving in leadership positions in the Manhattan/Brooklyn branches/wards. He is the composer of two hymns in our current hymnal (”Thy Servants Are Prepared” and “God’s Daily Care”) as well as hundreds of other compositions that have been used in the Church — he was, for instance, the composer of the prelude/postlude music used in connection with the Sacrament Gem in Sunday School, composing new music for that purpose month after month, year after year.

This carol arrangement was published in the Instructor in November, 1940.

Infant so gentle, so pure and so sweet,
Love from thy tiny eyes sinners doth greet.
Tend’rest words are falling all thy beauty to show,
We must adore thee, if Thee we would know.

Lead us, o Christ-child, oh lead us thy way,
Helpless we wander in darkness astray;
Let thy joyous tidings of good will toward men,
Resound again, Lord, let peace reign on earth!