| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from My Bondage and My Freedom by Frederick Douglass: It was the sage of the Old Dominion that said--while speaking of
the possibility of a conflict between the slaves and the
slaveholders--"God has no attribute that could take sides with
the oppressor in such a contest. I tremble for my country when I
reflect that God _is just_, and that his justice cannot sleep
forever." Such is the warning voice of Thomas Jefferson; and
every day's experience since its utterance until now, confirms
its wisdom, and commends its truth.
WHAT TO THE SLAVE IS THE
FOURTH OF JULY?
_Extract from an Oration, at Rochester, July 5, 1852_
My Bondage and My Freedom |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Cromwell by William Shakespeare: That makes a Goose of better than himself,
We'll worry him unto his latest home,
Or Gardiner will fail in his intent.
As for the Dukes of Suffolk and Norfolk,
Whom I have sent for to come speak with me,
Howsoever, outwardly they shadow it,
Yet in their hearts I know they love him not:
As for the Earl of Bedford, he is but one,
And dares not gainsay what we do set down.
[Enter the two witnesses.]
Now, my friends, you know I saved your lives,
|
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Young Forester by Zane Grey: hand and foot, the first roar of the forest fire reached my ears. It
threatened, but it roused my courage. I jumped as if I had been shot, and
clattered down that crag with wings guiding my long leaps. No crevice or
jumble of loose stones or steep descent daunted me. I reached the horse,
and, grasping the bridle, I started to lead him. We had zigzagged up, we
went straight down. Target was too spirited to balk, but he did everything
else. More than once he reared with his hoofs high in the air, and, snorting,
crashed down. He pulled me off my feet, he pawed at me with his great
iron shoes. When we got clear of the roughest and most thickly overgrown
part of the descent I mounted him. Then I needed no longer to urge him. The
fire had entered the canyon, the hollow roar swept up and filled Target
The Young Forester |
