| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Enemies of Books by William Blades: as the following anecdote will show: Two centuries ago, the library
of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster was kept in the Chapter House,
and repairs having become necessary in that building, a scaffolding
was erected inside, the books being left on their shelves.
One of the holes made in the wall for a scaffold-pole was
selected by a pair of rats for their family residence.
Here they formed a nest for their young ones by descending to
the library shelves and biting away the leaves of various books.
Snug and comfortable was the little household, until, one day,
the builder's men having finished, the poles were removed, and--
alas! for the rats--the hole was closed up with bricks and cement.
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Mistress Wilding by Rafael Sabatini: "Well ?" quoth he. "Have you nothing to say? You did a deal of prating
just now. I make no doubt but that even at this late hour if you were
to make apology..."
"It would be idle," came Wilding's icy voice to quench the gleam of hope
kindling anew in Richard's breast. The lad saw that he was lost, and he
is a poor thing, indeed, who cannot face the worst once that worst is
shown to be irrevocable. He rose with some semblance of dignity.
"It is as I would wish," said he, but his livid face and staring eyes
belied the valour of his words. He cleared his huskiness from his
throat. "Sir Rowland," said he, "will you act for me?"
"Not I!" cried Blake with an oath. "I'll be no party to the butchery
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able
to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them
which are sanctified."
And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, as it is written,
and prayed again in tears. And he turned him round, and kissed
Barachias, whom he had chosen to their king, and all the
officers. Then came a scene fit, belike, to make one weep. They
all crowded around him, as though his presence meant life to
them, and his departure would reave them of their very souls; and
what piteous pleading, what extravagance of grief did they omit?
They kissed him; they hung about him; they were beside themselves
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