The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Kwaidan by Lafcadio Hearn: bridge was each time carried away by a flood. No common bridge can resist
the current there when the river rises.
Mosaku and Minokichi were on their way home, one very cold evening, when a
great snowstorm overtook them. They reached the ferry; and they found that
the boatman had gone away, leaving his boat on the other side of the river.
It was no day for swimming; and the woodcutters took shelter in the
ferryman's hut, -- thinking themselves lucky to find any shelter at all.
There was no brazier in the hut, nor any place in which to make a fire: it
was only a two-mat [1] hut, with a single door, but no window. Mosaku and
Minokichi fastened the door, and lay down to rest, with their straw
rain-coats over them. At first they did not feel very cold; and they
 Kwaidan |
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 O Pioneers! by Willa Cather: any time."
Lou shrugged his shoulders. "He doesn't
seem to have done much for himself. Wander-
ing around this way!"
Oscar spoke solemnly, as from the depths of
a cavern. "He never was much account."
Alexandra left them and hurried down to the
gate where Annie was rattling on to Carl about
 O Pioneers! |