| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens: that was, that it was a pity there were not more like him, and that
because there were not, the country was going to rack and ruin
every day. He was in the commission of the peace, and could write
his name almost legibly; but his greatest qualifications were, that
he was more severe with poachers, was a better shot, a harder
rider, had better horses, kept better dogs, could eat more solid
food, drink more strong wine, go to bed every night more drunk and
get up every morning more sober, than any man in the county. In
knowledge of horseflesh he was almost equal to a farrier, in stable
learning he surpassed his own head groom, and in gluttony not a pig
on his estate was a match for him. He had no seat in Parliament
Barnaby Rudge |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Copy-Cat & Other Stories by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman: tendency of the other Trumbulls, he forcibly applied
the past to the present. He fairly plastered the
past over the exigencies of his day and generation
like a penetrating poultice of mustard, and the
results were peculiar.
Johnny, being bidden of a rainy day during the
midsummer vacation to remain in the house, to
keep quiet, read a book, and be a good boy, obeyed,
but his obedience was of a doubtful measure of
wisdom.
Johnny got a book out of his uncle Jonathan Trum-
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Europeans by Henry James: His sister looked at him still, with a ray of penetration
in her charming eyes; then she turned away again. "You see,
at all events," she presently went on, "that if it had been
said of me that I had come over here to seek my fortune it
would have to be added that I have found it!"
"Don't leave it lying!" urged Felix, with smiling solemnity.
"I am much obliged to you for your interest," his sister declared,
after a moment. "But promise me one thing: pas de zele!
If Mr. Acton should ask you to plead his cause, excuse yourself."
"I shall certainly have the excuse," said Felix, "that I have a cause
of my own to plead."
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