The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Moby Dick by Herman Melville: countenance of the old man at every shout; while the mariners began
to gaze curiously at each other, as if marvelling how it was that
they themselves became so excited at such seemingly purposeless
questions.
But, they were all eagerness again, as Ahab, now half-revolving in
his pivot-hole, with one hand reaching high up a shroud, and tightly,
almost convulsively grasping it, addressed them thus:--
"All ye mast-headers have before now heard me give orders about a
white whale. Look ye! d'ye see this Spanish ounce of gold?"--holding
up a broad bright coin to the sun--"it is a sixteen dollar piece,
men. D'ye see it? Mr. Starbuck, hand me yon top-maul."
 Moby Dick |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from One Basket by Edna Ferber: landing. His farm's edge had been marked by the Mississippi
rolling grandly by.
Since they had moved into town, he had found only one city sound
that he really welcomed--the rattle and clink that marked the
milkman's matutinal visit. The milkman came at six, and he was
the good fairy who released Ben Westerveld from durance vile--or
had until the winter months made his coming later and later, so
that he became worse than useless as a timepiece. But now it was
late March, and mild. The milkman's coming would soon again mark
old Ben's rising hour. Before he had begun to take it easy, six
o'clock had seen the entire mechanism of his busy little world
 One Basket |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde: LADY BRACKNELL. That sounds not unsatisfactory. Three addresses
always inspire confidence, even in tradesmen. But what proof have
I of their authenticity?
JACK. I have carefully preserved the Court Guides of the period.
They are open to your inspection, Lady Bracknell.
LADY BRACKNELL. [Grimly.] I have known strange errors in that
publication.
JACK. Miss Cardew's family solicitors are Messrs. Markby, Markby,
and Markby.
LADY BRACKNELL. Markby, Markby, and Markby? A firm of the very
highest position in their profession. Indeed I am told that one of
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