| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Mistress Wilding by Rafael Sabatini: Battiscomb answered the question, addressing himself to the Duke.
"Alas! Sir Francis, no doubt, would have been faithful to Your Grace,
but, unfortunately, Sir Francis is in prison already."
Deeper grew Monmouth's frown; his fingers drummed the table absently.
Fletcher poured himself wine, his face inscrutable. Grey threw one leg
over the other and in a voice that was carefully careless he inquired,
"And what of Sidney Clifford?"
"He is considering," said Battiscomb. "I was to have seen him again at
the end of the month; meanwhile, he would take no resolve."
"Lord Gervase Scoresby?" questioned Grey, less carelessly.
Battiscomb half turned to him, then faced the Duke again as he made
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Concerning Christian Liberty by Martin Luther: "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a
peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of Him who
hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light" (1
Peter ii. 9).
These two things stand thus. First, as regards kingship, every
Christian is by faith so exalted above all things that, in
spiritual power, he is completely lord of all things, so that
nothing whatever can do him any hurt; yea, all things are subject
to him, and are compelled to be subservient to his salvation.
Thus Paul says, "All things work together for good to them who
are the called" (Rom. viii. 28), and also, "Whether life, or
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry: and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they
are wisest. They are the magi.
End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of THE GIFT OF THE MAGI.
The Gift of the Magi |
The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from The Spirit of the Border by Zane Grey: wants no lands or power. He has given all that he had. He walks among you
without gun or knife. He can gain nothing but the happiness of opening the
redmen's eyes.
"The Great Spirit of whom I teach and the Great Manitou, your idol, are the
same; the happy hunting ground of the Indian and the beautiful forest of the
paleface are the same; the paleface and the redman are the same. There is but
one Great Spirit, that is God; but one eternal home, that is heaven; but one
human being, that is man.
"The Indian knows the habits of the beaver; he can follow the paths of the
forests; he can guide his canoe through the foaming rapids; he is honest, he
is brave, he is great; but he is not wise. His wisdom is clouded with the
The Spirit of the Border |
