| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Dunwich Horror by H. P. Lovecraft: 'Oh, my Gawd, my Gawd,' the voice choked out. 'It's a-goin'
agin, an' this time by day! It's aout - it's aout an' a-movin'
this very minute, an' only the Lord knows when it'll be on us
all!'
The speaker panted into silence, but another took up his
message.
'Nigh on a haour ago Zeb Whateley here heered the 'phone
a-ringin', an' it was Mis' Corey, George's wife, that lives daown
by the junction. She says the hired boy Luther was aout drivin'
in the caows from the storm arter the big bolt, when he see all
the trees a-bendin' at the maouth o' the glen - opposite side
The Dunwich Horror |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum: "Yes. Uncle Bill Hugson married your Uncle Henry's wife's sister;
so we must be second cousins," said the boy, in an amused tone.
"I work for Uncle Bill on his ranch, and he pays me six dollars a month
and my board."
"Isn't that a great deal?" she asked, doubtfully.
"Why, it's a great deal for Uncle Hugson, but not for me. I'm a
splendid worker. I work as well as I sleep," he added, with a laugh.
"What is your name?" said Dorothy, thinking she liked the boy's manner
and the cheery tone of his voice.
"Not a very pretty one," he answered, as if a little ashamed. "My
whole name is Zebediah; but folks just call me 'Zeb.' You've been to
Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Talisman by Walter Scott: sprung forward with the bound of a tiger, stood at the King's
back in less than an instant, and brandished aloft the cangiar,
or poniard, which he had hidden in his sleeve. Not the presence
of his whole army could have saved their heroic Monarch; but the
motions of the Nubian had been as well calculated as those of the
enthusiast, and ere the latter could strike, the former caught
his uplifted arm. Turning his fanatical wrath upon what thus
unexpectedly interposed betwixt him and his object, the
Charegite, for such was the seeming marabout, dealt the Nubian a
blow with the dagger, which, however, only grazed his arm, while
the far superior strength of the Ethiopian easily dashed him to
|
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 The Arrow of Gold by Joseph Conrad: naturally thought it was her sister coming again to renew the
scene. Her heart sank within her. In the end she became a little
frightened at the long silence, and raised her eyes. She didn't
believe them for a long time. She concluded that I was a vision.
In fact, the first word which I heard her utter was a low, awed
"No," which, though I understood its meaning, chilled my blood like
an evil omen.
It was then that I spoke. "Yes," I said, "it's me that you see,"
and made a step forward. She didn't start; only her other hand
flew to the edges of the fur coat, gripping them together over her
breast. Observing this gesture I sat down in the nearest chair.
The Arrow of Gold |
