| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Across The Plains by Robert Louis Stevenson: and about as much appearance of sentiment an you would expect from
a retired slaver, turned with a start and bade the performer stop
that "damned thing." "I've heard about enough of that," he added;
"give us something about the good country we're going to." A
murmur of adhesion ran round the car; the performer took the
instrument from his lips, laughed and nodded, and then struck into
a dancing measure; and, like a new Timotheus, stilled immediately
the emotion he had raised.
The day faded; the lamps were lit; a party of wild young men, who
got off next evening at North Platte, stood together on the stern
platform, singing "The Sweet By-and-bye" with very tuneful voices;
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Memorabilia by Xenophon: art,[21] which, if I mistake not, you hold to be happiness: how, may I
ask, will he be better off than others who lie in evil case, in spite
of themselves, simply because they suffer perforce, but in his case
the hunger and the thirst, the cold shivers and the lying awake at
nights, with all the changes he will ring on pain, are of his own
choosing? For my part I cannot see what difference it makes, provided
it is one and the same bare back which receives the stripes, whether
the whipping be self-appointed or unasked for; nor indeed does it
concern my body in general, provided it be my body, whether I am
beleaguered by a whole armament of such evils[22] of my own will or
against my will--except only for the folly which attaches to self-
The Memorabilia |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Spirit of the Border by Zane Grey: mountain-ash, keen as a fox, and absolutely tireless and implacable."
"How long have you been here, Colonel Zane?"
"More than twelve years, and it has been one long fight."
"I'm afraid I'm too late for the fun," said Joe, with his quiet laugh.
"Not by about twelve more years," answered Colonel Zane, studying the
expression on Joe's face. "When I came out here years ago I had the same
adventurous spirit which I see in you. It has been considerably quelled,
however. I have seen many a daring young fellow get the border fever, and with
it his death. Let me advise you to learn the ways of the hunters; to watch
some one skilled in woodcraft. Perhaps Wetzel himself will take you in hand. I
don't mind saying that he spoke of you to me in a tone I never heard Lew use
The Spirit of the Border |
