| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Outlaw of Torn by Edgar Rice Burroughs: visored knight, and in his raised hand flashed a
sharp dagger.
For an instant the girl stood frozen with horror, un-
able to move a finger or to cry out; but only for an
instant, and then, regaining control of her muscles, she
stooped quickly and grasping a heavy foot-stool hurled
it full at Peter of Colfax.
It struck him below the knees and toppled him to the
floor just as the knight's sword passed through the throat
of his final antagonist.
As the Baron fell he struck heavily upon a table
The Outlaw of Torn |
The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from Twice Told Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne: descended on the valley of the Saco. They dwelt in a cold spot
and a dangerous one; for a mountain towered above their heads, so
steep, that the stones would often rumble down its sides and
startle them at midnight.
The daughter had just uttered some simple jest that filled them
all with mirth, when the wind came through the Notch and seemed
to pause before their cottage--rattling the door, with a sound of
wailing and lamentation, before it passed into the valley. For a
moment it saddened them, though there was nothing unusual in the
tones. But the family were glad again when they perceived that
the latch was lifted by some traveller, whose footsteps had been
Twice Told Tales |
