THE PLEASURE OF A GARDEN 



amongst the branches and foliage, when my The 

 great garden, which I have before mentioned gardening 

 to you, does not afford a single leaf for their 

 shelter. 



You must know. . . that I look upon the pleas- 

 ure which we take in a garden, as one of the 

 most innocent delights in human life. A gar- 

 den was the habitation of our first parents be- 

 fore the fall. It is naturally apt to fill the mind 

 with calmness and tranquillity, and to lay all its 

 turbulent passions at rest. It gives us a great 

 insight into the contrivance and wisdom of pro- 

 vidence, and suggests innumerable subjects for 

 meditation. I cannot but think the very com- 

 placency and satisfaction which a man takes in 

 these works of Nature to be a laudable if not a 

 virtuous habit of mind. 



