| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart: its nine months' retirement in camphor.
I missed the summers with them when, somewhat later, at boarding-
school and college, the children spent much of their vacations
with friends. Gradually I found that my name signed to a check
was even more welcome than when signed to a letter, though I
wrote them at stated intervals. But when Halsey had finished
his electrical course and Gertrude her boarding-school, and both
came home to stay, things were suddenly changed. The winter
Gertrude came out was nothing but a succession of sitting up late
at night to bring her home from things, taking her to the
dressmakers between naps the next day, and discouraging
The Circular Staircase |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Madam How and Lady Why by Charles Kingsley: the superiority of knowledge which one man acquires over another.
I have known sailors who had been in all the quarters of the
world, and could tell you nothing but the signs of the tippling-
houses, and the price and quality of the liquor. On the other
hand, Franklin could not cross the Channel without making
observations useful to mankind. While many a vacant thoughtless
youth is whirled through Europe without gaining a single idea
worth crossing the street for, the observing eye and inquiring
mind find matter of improvement and delight in every ramble. You,
then, William, continue to use your eyes. And you, Robert, learn
that eyes were given to you to use."
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Thuvia, Maid of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs: a hundred or more miles had he cared to desert his
new-found comrade.
All the way they were in constant danger of discovery
by roving bands of Torquasians, and especially was this
true before they reached the boundary of Torquas.
Good fortune was with them, however, and although
they sighted two detachments of the savage green men,
they were not themselves seen.
And so they came, upon the morning of the third day,
within sight of the glistening domes of distant Aaanthor.
Throughout the journey Carthoris had ever strained his
Thuvia, Maid of Mars |
