| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from O Pioneers! by Willa Cather: he thought of his Alexandra's strong ones.
"DOTTER," he called feebly, "DOTTER!" He
heard her quick step and saw her tall figure
appear in the doorway, with the light of the
lamp behind her. He felt her youth and
strength, how easily she moved and stooped
and lifted. But he would not have had it again
if he could, not he! He knew the end too well to
wish to begin again. He knew where it all went
to, what it all became.
 O Pioneers! |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Life in the Iron-Mills by Rebecca Davis: he listened to each, as it passed, because he thought it was to
be for the last time. For the same reason, it was, I suppose,
that he strained his eyes to catch a glimpse of each passer-by,
wondering who they were, what kind of homes they were going to,
if they had children,--listening eagerly to every chance word in
the street, as if--(God be merciful to the man! what strange
fancy was this?)--as if he never should hear human voices again.
It was quite dark at last. The street was a lonely one. The
last passenger, he thought, was gone. No,--there was a quick
step: Joe Hill, lighting the lamps. Joe was a good old chap;
never passed a fellow without some joke or other. He remembered
 Life in the Iron-Mills |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum: 89
whatever; but in this he was wrong. For each girl had stuck through the knot
of her back hair two long, glittering knitting-needles.
General Jinjur immediately mounted the stump of a tree and addressed her
army.
"Friends, fellow-citizens, and girls!" she said; "we are about to begin our
great Revolt against the men of Oz! We march to conquer the Emerald City --
to dethrone the Scarecrow King -- to acquire thousands of gorgeous gems --
to rifle the royal treasury -- and to obtain power over our former
oppressors!"
"Hurrah!" said those who had listened; but Tip thought most of the Army was
 The Marvelous Land of Oz |