| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Tono Bungay by H. G. Wells: they were, I remember, extremely difficult to talk to. They all
sat about in the summer-house and in garden-chairs, and were
very hatty and ruffley and sunshady. Three ladies and the curate
played croquet with a general immense gravity, broken by
occasional loud cries of feigned distress from the curate. "Oh!
Whacking me about again! Augh!"
The dominant social fact that afternoon was Mrs. Hogberry; she
took up a certain position commanding the croquet and went on, as
my aunt said to me in an incidental aside, "like an old
Roundabout." She talked of the way in which Beckenham society
was getting mixed, and turned on to a touching letter she had
|
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Blue Flower by Henry van Dyke: do. You know this is a Castalian fountain. The Emperor Hadrian
once read his fortune here from a leaf dipped in the water. Let
us see what this leaf tells us. It is already turning yellow.
How do you read that?"
"Wealth," said Hermas, laughing, as he looked at his mean
garments.
"And here is a bud on the stem that seems to be swelling.
What is that?"
"Pleasure," answered Hermas, bitterly.
"And here is a tracing of wreaths upon the surface. What
do you make of that?"
|
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Vailima Prayers & Sabbath Morn by Robert Louis Stevenson: For Renewal of Joy
FOR SUCCESS
LORD, behold our family here assembled. We thank Thee for this
place in which we dwell; for the love that unites us; for the peace
accorded us this day; for the hope with which we expect the morrow;
for the health, the work, the food, and the bright skies, that make
our lives delightful; for our friends in all parts of the earth,
and our friendly helpers in this foreign isle. Let peace abound in
our small company. Purge out of every heart the lurking grudge.
Give us grace and strength to forbear and to persevere. Offenders,
give us the grace to accept and to forgive offenders. Forgetful
|
