A WINTER GARDEN 147 



fair weather in the most uncomfortable parts of the 

 year, and have frequently several days in November 

 and January that are as agreeable as any of the 

 finest months. At such times, therefore, I think 

 there could not be a greater pleasure than to walk 

 in such a winter-garden as I have proposed. In 

 the summer season the whole country blooms, and 

 is a kind of garden, for which reason we are not 

 so sensible of those beauties that at this time may 

 be everywhere met with ; but when nature is in 

 her desolation, and presents us with nothing but 

 bleak and barren prospects, there is something un- 

 speakably cheerful in a spot of ground which is 

 covered with trees that smile amidst all the rigour 

 of winter, and give us a view of the most gay season 

 in the midst of that which is the most dead and 

 melancholy. ... It is very pleasant at the same 

 time, to see the several kinds of birds retiring into 

 this little green spot, and enjoying themselves 

 among the branches and foliage, when my great 

 garden, which I have before mentioned to you, 

 does not afford a single leaf for their shelter." 



JOSEPH ADDISON. 



