| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Pierre Grassou by Honore de Balzac: punctuality that was very discomforting to the exchequer of the
ministry, accustomed to a different course of action. But--admire the
good fortune of men who are methodical--if Grassou, belated with his
work, had been caught by the revolution of July he would not have got
his money.
By the time he was thirty-seven Fougeres had manufactured for Elie
Magus some two hundred pictures, all of them utterly unknown, by the
help of which he had attained to that satisfying manner, that point of
execution before which the true artist shrugs his shoulders and the
bourgeoisie worships. Fougeres was dear to friends for rectitude of
ideas, for steadiness of sentiment, absolute kindliness, and great
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Records of a Family of Engineers by Robert Louis Stevenson: endeavouring to avert the effects of the rising tide.
[Friday, 21st Aug.]
Everything connected with the forge being now completed,
the artificers found no want of sharp tools, and the work went
forward with great alacrity and spirit. It was also alleged
that the rock had a more habitable appearance from the volumes
of smoke which ascended from the smith's shop and the busy
noise of his anvil, the operations of the masons, the
movements of the boats, and shipping at a distance - all
contributed to give life and activity to the scene. This
noise and traffic had, however, the effect of almost
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from A Simple Soul by Gustave Flaubert: houses hung with white sheets; at last the procession arrived at the
foot of the hill.
A cold sweat broke out on Felicite's forehead. Mother Simon wiped it
away with a cloth, saying inwardly that some day she would have to go
through the same thing herself.
The murmur of the crowd grew louder, was very distinct for a moment
and then died away. A volley of musketry shook the window-panes. It
was the postilions saluting the Sacrament. Felicite rolled her eyes,
and said as loudly as she could:
"Is he all right?" meaning the parrot.
Her death agony began. A rattle that grew more and more rapid shook
A Simple Soul |
