JANUARY 



23 



The value of the pitch pine in winter is that it 

 holds the snow so finely. I see it now afar on the 

 hillsides decking itself with it, its whited towers 

 forming coverts where the rabbit and the gray 

 squirrel lurk. It makes the most cheerful winter 

 scenery, beheld from the window, you know so well 

 the nature of the coverts and the sombre light it 

 makes. The young oaks with their red leaves, cov- 

 ering so many acres, are also an indispensable fea- 

 ture of the winter landscape, and the limbs of oak 

 woods where some of the trees have been cut off. 



THOREAU: Winter. 



24 



Through my north window, in the wintry 

 weather, 



My airy oriel on the river shore, 

 I watch the sea-fowl as they flock together 



Where late the boatman flashed his dripping oar. 



The gull, high floating, like a sloop unladen, 

 Lets the loose water waft him as it will ; 



The duck, round-breasted as a rustic maiden, 

 Paddles and plunges, busy, busy still. 



HOLMES: My Aviary. 



