| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry: are wisest. They are the magi.
End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of THE GIFT OF THE MAGI.
The Gift of the Magi |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Yates Pride by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman: place to judge of change. It is for the one who goes and returns
after many years."
There was a faint hint of proud sadness in Eudora's voice as she
spoke the last two words.
"It has been many years," said Lawton, gravely, "and I wonder if
it has seemed so to you."
Eudora held her head proudly. "Time passes swiftly," said she,
tritely.
"But sometimes it may seem long in the passing, however swift,"
said Lawton, "though I suppose it has not to you. You look just
the same," he added, regarding her admiringly.
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The American by Henry James: artificial woman help him?--she who in the last twenty minutes had
built up between them a wall of polite conversation in which she
evidently flattered herself that he would never find a gate.
Had it come to that--that he was asking favors of conceited people,
and appealing for sympathy where he had no sympathy to give? He rested
his arms on his knees, and sat for some minutes staring into his hat.
As he did so his ears tingled--he had come very near being an ass.
Whether or no the duchess would hear his story, he wouldn't tell it.
Was he to sit there another half hour for the sake of exposing
the Bellegardes? The Bellegardes be hanged! He got up abruptly,
and advanced to shake hands with his hostess.
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