| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Poor and Proud by Oliver Optic: thinking that her natural generosity might seriously interfere
with the profits of her enterprise. She had a great many friends;
and it became a knotty question for her to decide whether, if she
met any of her school companions, she should give each of them a
stick of candy. She would like to do so very much indeed; but it
was certain she could not afford to pursue such a liberal policy.
It was a hard question, and, hoping she should not meet any of
her schoolmates, she determined to refer it to her mother for
settlement.
When she got into Washington Street, she felt that the time for
action had come. Now was the time to sell candy; and yet she did
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from A Horse's Tale by Mark Twain: think you could blow the advance?' She put up the bugle to do it,
but he said wait a minute first. Then he and the sergeant set her
arm and put it in splints, she wincing but not whimpering; then we
took up the march for home, and that's the end of the tale; and I'm
her horse. Isn't she a brick, Shekels?
"Brick? She's more than a brick, more than a thousand bricks -
she's a reptile!"
"It's a compliment out of your heart, Shekels. God bless you for
it!"
CHAPTER X - GENERAL ALISON AND DORCAS
"Too much company for her, Marse Tom. Betwixt you, and Shekels,
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