| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Copy-Cat & Other Stories by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman: so to do, cleared the floor of matches.
Hayward smoked and regarded his friend, who
looked troubled despite his comfort. "What is it,
Jim?" asked the minister at last.
"I don't know how to do what is right for me to
do," replied the little man, and his face, turned
toward his friend, had the puzzled earnestness of a
child.
Hayward laughed. It was easily seen that his
was the keener mind. In natural endowments
there had never been equality, although there was
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Under the Red Robe by Stanley Weyman: ground floor of the east wing from view, while a formal rose
garden, stiff even in neglect, lay in front of the main building.
The west wing, of which the lower roofs fell gradually away to
the woods, probably contained the stables and granaries.
I stood a moment only, but I marked all, and noted how the road
reached the house, and which windows were open to attack; then I
turned and hastened back. Fortunately, I met no one between the
house and the village, and was able to enter my host's with an
air of the most complete innocence.
Short as had been my absence, however, I found things altered
there. Round the door lounged three strangers--stout, well-armed
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Daisy Miller by Henry James: at him nor when she felt that people were looking at her.
People continued to look at her a great deal, and Winterbourne took
much satisfaction in his pretty companion's distinguished air.
He had been a little afraid that she would talk loud, laugh overmuch,
and even, perhaps, desire to move about the boat a good deal.
But he quite forgot his fears; he sat smiling, with his
eyes upon her face, while, without moving from her place,
she delivered herself of a great number of original reflections.
It was the most charming garrulity he had ever heard.
he had assented to the idea that she was "common"; but was she so,
after all, or was he simply getting used to her commonness?
|
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 Gentle Grafter by O. Henry: starting. I got a $5,000 one last week for $2.10.'
"Just then a telephone bell rings in the house.
"'Come in, Bunk,' says the farmer, 'and look at my place. It's kind of
lonesome here sometimes. I think that's New York calling.'
"We went inside. The room looked like a Broadway stockbroker's--light
oak desks, two 'phones, Spanish leather upholstered chairs and
couches, oil paintings in gilt frames a foot deep and a ticker hitting
off the news in one corner.
"'Hello, hello!' says this funny farmer. 'Is that the Regent Theatre?
Yes; this is Plunkett, of Woodbine Centre. Reserve four orchestra
seats for Friday evening--my usual ones. Yes; Friday--good-bye.'
|
