| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Rezanov by Gertrude Atherton: titles should be bestowed as a reward for distin-
guished services alone? He got a fortune in his
youth by marriage with a daughter of Shelikov--
that Siberian who founded the Russian colonies in
America. The wife died almost immediately, but
the Baron's influence remained with Shelikov--for
his influence at court was even greater--and after
the older man's death, with his mother-in-law, who
is uncommonly clever. Shelikov's schemes were
but little sketches beside Rezanov's, who from merely a
courtier and a gay blood about town developed into
 Rezanov |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Lost Princess of Oz by L. Frank Baum: Cookie Cook. "And they asked if any of us had stolen the dishpan!"
continued Corporal Waddle indignantly. "That is the same thing as calling us
thieves and robbers and bandits and brigands, is it not?"
"Every person has the right to ask questions," said the Frogman.
"But the Corporal is quite correct," declared the Lavender Bear. "I
condemn you both to death, the execution to take place ten years from
this hour."
"But we belong in the Land of Oz, where no one ever dies," Cayke
reminded him.
"Very true," said the King. "I condemn you to death merely as a
matter of form. It sounds quite terrible, and in ten years we shall
 The Lost Princess of Oz |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: descending low, and interspersed by rifts that sink deep.
The field of ice is almost a league in width, but I spent nearly
two hours in crossing it. The opposite mountain is a bare
perpendicular rock. From the side where I now stood Montanvert was
exactly opposite, at the distance of a league; and above it rose
Mont Blanc, in awful majesty. I remained in a recess of the rock,
gazing on this wonderful and stupendous scene. The sea, or rather
the vast river of ice, wound among its dependent mountains, whose
aerial summits hung over its recesses. Their icy and glittering
peaks shone in the sunlight over the clouds. My heart, which was
before sorrowful, now swelled with something like joy; I exclaimed,
 Frankenstein |