| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Lost Princess of Oz by L. Frank Baum: and the amazed watchers under the tree wondered what had become of
her. "She's gone, and she can't get back," said the Woozy.
"My, how she bounded from one mountain to another!" exclaimed the
Lion.
"That was because they whirl so fast," the Wizard explained. "Scraps
had nothing to hold on to, and so of course she was tossed from one
hill to another. I'm afraid we shall never see the poor Patchwork
Girl again."
"I shall see her," declared the Woozy. "Scraps is an old friend of
mine, and if there are really Thistle-Eaters and Giants on the other
side of those tops, she will need someone to protect her. So here I
The Lost Princess of Oz |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Mayflower Compact: by the Grace of God, of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland,
King, Defender of the Faith, &c.
Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of
the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country,
a Voyage to plant the first colony in the Northerne Parts
of Virginia; doe, by these Presents, solemnly and mutually
in the Presence of God and one of another, covenant and
combine ourselves together into a civill Body Politick,
for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance
of the Ends aforesaid; And by Virtue hereof do enact,
constitute, and frame, such just and equall Laws, Ordinances,
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from My Antonia by Willa Cather: in saddle-bags; but grandfather told him the roads would be obliterated,
and a newcomer in the country would be lost ten times over. Anyway, he would
never allow one of his horses to be put to such a strain.
We decided to have a country Christmas, without any help from town.
I had wanted to get some picture books for Yulka and Antonia;
even Yulka was able to read a little now. Grandmother took me into
the ice-cold storeroom, where she had some bolts of gingham and sheeting.
She cut squares of cotton cloth and we sewed them together into a book.
We bound it between pasteboards, which I covered with brilliant calico,
representing scenes from a circus. For two days I sat at the
dining-room table, pasting this book full of pictures for Yulka.
My Antonia |
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 Life of the Spider by J. Henri Fabre: eight months in the cramping presence of those bedchambers, what
can be the reason of a sudden need for greater space? I see but
one: the Spider requires a roomy habitation, not for herself--she
is satisfied with the smallest den--but for a second family. Where
is she to place the pockets of eggs, if the ruins of the previous
laying remain in the way? A new brood requires a new home. That,
no doubt, is why, feeling that her ovaries are not yet dried up,
the Spider shifts her quarters and founds a new establishment.
The facts observed are confined to this change of dwelling. I
regret that other interests and the difficulties attendant upon a
long upbringing did not allow me to pursue the question and
The Life of the Spider |
