The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Collected Articles by Frederick Douglass: Without attempting to settle here the metaphysical and somewhat
theological question (about which so much has already been said and written),
whether once in the Union means always in the Union,--agreeably to the formula,
Once in grace always in grace,-- it is obvious to common sense that the
rebellious States stand to- day, in point of law, precisely where
they stood when, exhausted, beaten, conquered, they fell powerless
at the feet of Federal authority. Their State governments were overthrown,
and the lives and property of the leaders of the Rebellion were forfeited.
In reconstructing the institutions of these shattered and overthrown States,
Congress should begin with a clean slate, and make clean work of it.
Let there be no hesitation. It would be a cowardly deference
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson by Robert Louis Stevenson: you some, I believe, anyway, only none of it is thoroughly ripe.
If kept back the volume of ballads, I'll soon make it a respectable
size if this fit continue. By the next mail you may expect some
more WRECKER, or I shall be displeased. Probably no more than a
chapter, however, for it is a hard one, and I am denuded of my
proofs, my collaborator having walked away with them to England;
hence some trouble in catching the just note.
I am a mere farmer: my talk, which would scarce interest you on
Broadway, is all of fuafua and tuitui, and black boys, and planting
and weeding, and axes and cutlasses; my hands are covered with
blisters and full of thorns; letters are, doubtless, a fine thing,
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from King Lear by William Shakespeare: Than a grac'd palace. The shame itself doth speak
For instant remedy. Be then desir'd
By her that else will take the thing she begs
A little to disquantity your train,
And the remainder that shall still depend
To be such men as may besort your age,
Which know themselves, and you.
Lear. Darkness and devils!
Saddle my horses! Call my train together!
Degenerate bastard, I'll not trouble thee;
Yet have I left a daughter.
 King Lear |