| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Sesame and Lilies by John Ruskin: account of it. Now it is clear he cannot give account of the souls,
if he has not so much as numbered the bodies, of his flock. The
first thing, therefore, that a bishop has to do is at least to put
himself in a position in which, at any moment, he can obtain the
history, from childhood, of every living soul in his diocese, and of
its present state. Down in that back street, Bill, and Nancy,
knocking each other's teeth out!--Does the bishop know all about it?
Has he his eye upon them? Has he HAD his eye upon them? Can he
circumstantially explain to us how Bill got into the habit of
beating Nancy about the head? If he cannot, he is no bishop, though
he had a mitre as high as Salisbury steeple; he is no bishop,--he
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Margret Howth: A Story of To-day by Rebecca Harding Davis: seemed to gather a deeper, solemn meaning. Jenny Balls came in
one night, and old Mrs. Polston.
"We thought you'd like to see her weddin'-dress, Lois," said the
old woman, taking off Jenny's cloak, "seein' as the weddin' was
to hev been to-morrow, and was put off on 'count of you."
Lois did like to see it; sat up, her face quite flushed to see
how nicely it fitted, and stroked back Jenny's soft hair under
the veil. And Jenny, being a warm-hearted little thing, broke
into a sobbing fit, saying that it spoiled it all to have Lois
gone.
"Don't muss your veil, child," said Mrs. Polston.
Margret Howth: A Story of To-day |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The White Moll by Frank L. Packard: immediate vicinity was deserted; then she slipped into the alleyway,
and stole close to the side window, through which, she had noted
from the street, there shone a light. Yes, they were there, the
two of them - she could see them quite distinctly even through
the shutters.
She went back to the front door then, and knocked. And presently
the old woman came and opened the door.
"This is yours," Rhoda said, and thrust the package into the woman's
hand. And as the woman looked from her to the package
uncomprehendingly, Rhoda Gray flung a quick "good-night" over her
shoulder, and ran down the steps again.
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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 The Bride of Lammermoor by Walter Scott: With like protestations, Ravenswood placed his portion of the
coin opposite to his heart. And now, at length, it struck them
that time had hurried fast on during this interview, and their
absence at the castle would be subject of remark, if not of
alarm. As they arose to leave the fountain which had been
witness of their mutual engagement, an arrow whistled through the
air, and struck a raven perched on the sere branch of an old oak,
near to where they had been seated. The bird fluttered a few
yards and dropped at the feet of Lucy, whose dress was stained
with some spots of its blood.
Miss Ashton was much alarmed, and Ravenswood, surprised and
The Bride of Lammermoor |
