| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Emma by Jane Austen: This does not apply, however, to Miss Bates; she is only too good
natured and too silly to suit me; but, in general, she is very
much to the taste of every body, though single and though poor.
Poverty certainly has not contracted her mind: I really believe,
if she had only a shilling in the world, she would be very likely
to give away sixpence of it; and nobody is afraid of her: that is a
great charm."
"Dear me! but what shall you do? how shall you employ yourself
when you grow old?"
"If I know myself, Harriet, mine is an active, busy mind, with a great
many independent resources; and I do not perceive why I should be
 Emma |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Betty Zane by Zane Grey: be near her had grown well nigh resistless, his pride had not yet broken down.
Many of the summer evenings found him on the Colonel's doorstep, smoking a
pipe, or playing with the children. He was that rare and best company--a good
listener. Although he laughed at Colonel Zane's stories, and never tired of
hearing of Isaac's experiences among the Indians, it is probable he would not
have partaken of the Colonel's hospitality nearly so often had it not been
that he usually saw Betty, and if he got only a glimpse of her he went away
satisfied. On Sundays he attended the services at the little church and
listened to Betty's sweet voice as she led the singing.
There were a number of girls at the fort near Betty's age. With all of these
Alfred was popular. He appeared so entirely different from the usual young man
 Betty Zane |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Fisherman's Luck by Henry van Dyke: whole constellation is thine.
The long, low, white farmhouse stands on a green hill at the head of
the Romsdal. A flourishing crop of grass and flowers grows on the
stable-roof, and there is a little belfry with a big bell to call
the labourers home from the fields. In the corner of the living-
room of the old house there is a broad fireplace built across the
angle. Curious cupboards are tucked away everywhere. The long
table in the dining-room groans thrice a day with generous fare.
There are as many kinds of hot bread as in a Virginia country-house;
the cream is thick enough to make a spoon stand up in amazement;
once, at dinner, we sat embarrassed before six different varieties
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