| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Lady Susan by Jane Austen: delightful, and since matters have now taken so favourable a turn, I am
quite sorry that I ever imparted my apprehensions to you; for the pleasure
of learning that the danger is over is perhaps dearly purchased by all that
you have previously suffered. I am so much agitated by delight that I can
scarcely hold a pen; but am determined to send you a few short lines by
James, that you may have some explanation of what must so greatly astonish
you, as that Reginald should be returning to Parklands. I was sitting about
half an hour ago with Sir James in the breakfast parlour, when my brother
called me out of the room. I instantly saw that something was the matter;
his complexion was raised, and he spoke with great emotion; you know his
eager manner, my dear mother, when his mind is interested. "Catherine,"
Lady Susan |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Hunting of the Snark by Lewis Carroll: Dressed in gown, bands, and wig, was defending a pig
On the charge of deserting its sty.
The Witnesses proved, without error or flaw,
That the sty was deserted when found:
And the Judge kept explaining the state of the law
In a soft under-current of sound.
The indictment had never been clearly expressed,
And it seemed that the Snark had begun,
And had spoken three hours, before any one guessed
What the pig was supposed to have done.
The Jury had each formed a different view
The Hunting of the Snark |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Light of Western Stars by Zane Grey: next loomed up the lofty form of Nick Steele. Madeline and the
members of her party were riding between cowboy escorts.
Bright daylight came, and Madeline saw the trail was leading up
through foothills. It led in a round-about way through shallow
gullies full of stone and brush washed down by floods. At every
turn now Madeline expected to come upon water and the waiting
pack-train. But time passed, and miles of climbing, and no water
or horses were met. Expectation in Madeline gave place to
desire; she was hungry.
Presently Stewart's horse went splashing into a shallow pool.
Beyond that damp places in the sand showed here and there, and
The Light of Western Stars |
