| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Water-Babies by Charles Kingsley: hundred and ninety-nine thousandths of their lives; and look at the
dog instead; for he knows the way well enough, and will not forget
it. Besides, you may meet some very queer-tempered people there,
who will not let you pass without this passport of mine, which you
must hang round your neck and take care of; and, of course, as the
dog will always go behind you, you must go the whole way backward."
"Backward!" cried Tom. "Then I shall not be able to see my way."
"On the contrary, if you look forward, you will not see a step
before you, and be certain to go wrong; but, if you look behind
you, and watch carefully whatever you have passed, and especially
keep your eye on the dog, who goes by instinct, and therefore can't
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Spirit of the Border by Zane Grey: Joe followed the stream a mile or more. He kept close in the shade of willows,
and never walked across an open glade without first waiting and watching. He
listened to all sounds; but none were unfamiliar. He closely examined the sand
along the stream, and the moss and leaves under the trees. When he had been
separated from Wetzel several hours, and concluded he would slowly return to
camp, he ran across a well-beaten path winding through the forest. This was,
perhaps, one of the bridle-trails Wetzel had referred to. He bent over the
worn grass with keen scrutiny.
CRACK!
The loud report of a heavily charged rifle rang out. Joe felt the zip of a
bullet as it fanned his cheek. With an agile leap he gained the shelter of a
 The Spirit of the Border |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from A Sentimental Journey by Laurence Sterne: process, and deeming it more gallant to take her at discretion than
by surprise, I faced about and took a short turn or two before the
door of the Remise, whilst she walk'd musing on one side.
IN THE STREET. CALAIS.
HAVING, on the first sight of the lady, settled the affair in my
fancy "that she was of the better order of beings;" - and then laid
it down as a second axiom, as indisputable as the first, that she
was a widow, and wore a character of distress, - I went no further;
I got ground enough for the situation which pleased me; - and had
she remained close beside my elbow till midnight, I should have
held true to my system, and considered her only under that general
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