Explanation: It is the most dead uncomfortable time of the year, when the poor people would suffer very much from their poverty and cold….. 

Answer: These lines occur in Joseph Addison’s essay “Sir Roger in the Town” in the Coverley Papers. These lines give a pen picture of Sir Rogers’s attitude and mentality toward his poor parishioners.

Christmas is an occasion of enjoyment, merriment, festivity, and cheerfulness. People from all walks of life come out to enjoy holy Christmas. Sir Roger feels that it would be very helpful and better for the poor people if Christmas falls out in the middle of winter. This period of the year is the next dreadful and uncomfortable time. At this time of the year, the people had to undergo a biting cold. In most cases, they do not have sufficient food to meet their hunger or adequate clothes to keep them warm. They suffer unbearable suffering during the winter. So, Sir Roger feels that if the day of Christmas falls out in the middle of the winter, then the suffering of the poor might be minimized to a obtain level. In that case, the poor people could enjoy themselves on merry Christmas and Sir Roger could entertain them with delicious dishes and drinks. People usually are more generous on the occasion of Christmas. They would support and help the poor enjoy their Christmas. The miseries and hardships of the poor from the dead uncomfortable winter would lessen to a considerable extent if Merry Christmas happens to occur in the middle of winter.

These lines portray Sir Roger as a subject-loving benevolent knight.