| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Tattine by Ruth Ogden [Mrs. Charles W. Ide]: that treacherous Black- and-white was kept close guarded, and then back she
fl‡w again to the aid of the little birds themselves. Softly she drew nearer
and nearer, saying over gently, "Whoa, Lizzie! dear little birdies!" until she
came very near and then she put out one hand towards them. That was enough for
the fledglings. Refreshed by their rest on the shafts, they flapped their
tiny wings and fluttered up to the anxious mother bird on the branches above
them, wholly unconscious that they had been in any peril whatsoever.
"And Black-and-white would have killed them, every one, if she had had the
chance," thought Tattine; "oh, if I only knew how to teach her a lesson!"
CHAPTER V. THE KIRKS AT HOME
Barney the donkey was harnessed, and Tattine sat in the little donkey-cart
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Under the Andes by Rex Stout: about my head like a circle of flame. Black, dusky forms swam to
the ledge and grasped its slippery surface, but they got no
farther. The shaft of the spear bent in my hand; I picked up
another, barely losing a second.
A wild and savage delight surged through me at the sight of
those struggling, writhing, slipping forms. I swung the spear in
vicious fury. Not one had found footing on the ledge.
Something suddenly struck me in the left arm and stuck there;
I shook it loose impatiently and it felt as though my arm went with
it.
I did not care to glance up even for an instant; they were
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Wrong Box by Stevenson & Osbourne: spice of life. What is life, passionately exclaimed a French
philosopher, without the pleasures of disguise? I don't say it's
always good taste, and I know it's unprofessional; but what's the
odds, downhearted drawing-master? It has to be. We have to leave
a false impression on the minds of many persons, and in
particular on the mind of Mr Gideon Forsyth--the young gentleman
I know by sight--if he should have the bad taste to be at home.'
'If he be at home?' faltered the artist. 'That would be the end
of all.'
'Won't matter a d--,' returned Michael airily. 'Let me see your
clothes, and I'll make a new man of you in a jiffy.'
|
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 Great God Pan by Arthur Machen: "Yes, that is the story."
"Well, really, Villiers, I scarcely know what to say
about it. There are, no doubt, circumstances in the case which
seem peculiar, the finding of the dead man in the area of
Herbert's house, for instance, and the extraordinary opinion of
the physician as to the cause of death; but, after all, it is
conceivable that the facts may be explained in a straightforward
manner. As to your own sensations, when you went to see the
house, I would suggest that they were due to a vivid
imagination; you must have been brooding, in a semi-conscious
way, over what you had heard. I don't exactly see what more can
The Great God Pan |
