| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Boys' Life of Abraham Lincoln by Helen Nicolay: election. His friends and acquaintanceS in the county had
increased, and, since he had received such a flattering vote the
first time, it was but natural that he should wish to try again.
He began his campaign in April, giving himself full three months
for electioneering. It was customary in those days for candidates
to attend all manner of neighborhood gatherings--"raisings" of
new cabins, horseraces, shooting-matches, auctions--anything that
served to call the settlers together; and it was social
popularity, quite as much as ability to discuss political
questions, that carried weight with such assemblies. Lincoln, it
is needless to say, was in his element. He might be called upon
|
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from A Straight Deal by Owen Wister: soldiers express dislike of the English because of their coldness. The
English are not cold; they are silent upon certain matters. But it is all
there. Do you remember that sailor at Zeebrugge carrying the unconscious
body of a comrade to safety, not sure yet if he were alive or dead, and
stroking that comrade's head as he went, saying over and over, "Did you
think I would leave yer?" We are more demonstrative, we spell things out
which it is the way of the English to leave between the lines. But it is
all there! Behind that unconciliating wall of shyness and reserve, beats
and hides the warm, loyal British heart, the most constant heart in the
world.
"It isn't done."
|
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Extracts From Adam's Diary by Mark Twain: It seems odd that it should be the only one, yet it must be so,
for I have worn myself out these many weeks trying to find another
one to add to my collection, and for this one to play with; for
surely then it would be quieter, and we could tame it more easily.
But I find none, nor any vestige of any; and strangest of all, no
tracks. It has to live on the ground, it cannot help itself;
therefore, how does it get about without leaving a track? I have
set a dozen traps, but they do no good. I catch all small animals
except that one; animals that merely go into the trap out of
curiosity, I think, to see what the milk is there for. They never
drink it.
|
