| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from A Kidnapped Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum: "As a rule, that is true," replied the Daemon; "yet you, who have done
no evil, are about to visit my cave at once; for to prove that I sincerely
regret my share in your capture I am going to permit you to escape."
This speech greatly surprised the prisoner, until he reflected that it
was just what might be expected of the Daemon of Repentance. The
fellow at once busied himself untying the knots that bound Santa Claus
and unlocking the chains that fastened him to the wall. Then he
led the way through a long tunnel until they both emerged in the
Cave of Repentance.
"I hope you will forgive me," said the Daemon pleadingly. "I am not
really a bad person, you know; and I believe I accomplish a great deal
A Kidnapped Santa Claus |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Emerald City of Oz by L. Frank Baum: the Land of Oz."
"Yes; I know that. And while you were on your journey I have thought
of a way to accomplish your desire. For it seems to me unwise to
allow too many outside people to come here. Dorothy, with her uncle
and aunt, has now returned to Oz to live always, and there is no
reason why we should leave any way open for others to travel uninvited
to our fairyland. Let us make it impossible for any one ever to
communicate with us in any way, after this. Then we may live
peacefully and contentedly."
"Your advice is wise," returned Ozma. "I thank you, Glinda, for your
promise to assist me."
The Emerald City of Oz |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Collected Articles by Frederick Douglass: The yawning seam and corroded bolt conceal their defects from the mariner
until the storm calls all hands to the pumps. Prophets, indeed,
were abundant before the war; but who cares for prophets while
their predictions remain unfulfilled, and the calamities of which
they tell are masked behind a blinding blaze of national prosperity?
It is asked, said Henry Clay, on a memorable occasion,
Will slavery never come to an end? That question, said he,
was asked fifty years ago, and it has been answered by fifty years
of unprecedented prosperity. Spite of the eloquence of the earnest
Abolitionists,--poured out against slavery during thirty years,--
even they must confess, that, in all the probabilities of the case,
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