| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Finished by H. Rider Haggard: nothing more, but gave up my mind to thought of my own position
and difficulties.
Here I was, ordered on pain of death to depart from Ulundi at the
dawn. And yet how could I obey without seeing Zikali and
learning from him what had happened to Anscombe and Heda, or at
any rate without communicating with him? Once more only did I
break silence, offering to give Goza a gun if he would take a
message from me to the great wizard. But with a shake of his big
head, he answered that to do so would mean death, and guns were
of no good to a dead man since, as I had shown myself that night,
they had no power to shoot a spirit.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Red Seal by Natalie Sumner Lincoln: and participating in the interview with the widow, changed his mind.
"I must leave at once," he said, after consulting his watch.
"Please inform Mrs. Brewster, Colonel, that I will be in my office
this afternoon, and I expect her to make me the visit she postponed
this morning. Ferguson," turning back to address the detective,
"you'll find me at the Saratoga for the next hour. Good morning,"
and paying no attention to Colonel McIntyre's request to remain, he
left the room.
There was no one in the hall and Kent debated a moment whether or
not to ring for the servant and ask to see Barbara, but, at sight
of the hall table, Grimes' confidences recurred to him and drove
The Red Seal |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Magic of Oz by L. Frank Baum: eyes only saw a twinkling of the blade. Then, suddenly, the forest
was open again, and the little axe, having obeyed its orders, lay
still upon the ground.
The Wizard picked up the magic axe and after carefully wiping it
with his silk handkerchief put it away in his black bag. Then they
went on and in a short time reached the river.
"Let me see," said the Glass Cat, looking up and down the stream, "I
think we are below the Magic Isle; so we must go up the stream until
we come to it."
So up the stream they traveled, walking comfortably on the river
bank, and after a while the water broadened and a sharp bend appeared
The Magic of Oz |
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 Poor and Proud by Oliver Optic: a little farm in the country, tempted her with an offer of
marriage, and her conscience (I suppose) would not let her refuse
it. Katy, though she was a woman, so far as the duties and
responsibilities of life were concerned, was still a child in her
feelings and affections, and cried bitterly when they parted. The
good woman was scarcely less affected, and made Katy and her
mother promise an early visit to her farm.
Katy's sorrow at parting with her beloved friend was not the
only, nor perhaps, the most important, result of Mrs. Colvin's
departure, for they were deprived of the assistance of the chief
candy-puller. Katy tried to secure another woman for this labor,
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