| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Chouans by Honore de Balzac: The heavy step of a soldier was heard in the passage, and the
Commandant Hulot presently appeared in the doorway with a frowning
brow.
"Come here, colonel," said Mademoiselle de Verneuil, smiling and
pointing to a chair beside her. "Let us talk over the affairs of
State. But what is the matter with you? Are there Chouans here?"
The commandant stood speechless on catching sight of the young man, at
whom he looked with peculiar attention.
"Mamma, will you take some more hare? Mademoiselle, you are not
eating," said the sailor to Francine, seeming busy with the guests.
But Hulot's astonishment and Mademoiselle de Verneuil's close
The Chouans |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Options by O. Henry: a mental basis. I've got to do something in an intellectual line, if
it's only to knock somebody's brains out.'
"This Henry Ogden was a peculiar kind of ranchman. He wore finger-
rings and a big gold watch and careful neckties. And his face was
calm, and his nose-spectacles was kept very shiny. I saw once, in
Muscogee, an outlaw hung for murdering six men, who was a dead ringer
for him. But I knew a preacher in Arkansas that you would have taken
to be his brother. I didn't care much for him either way; what I
wanted was some fellowship and communion with holy saints or lost
sinners--anything sheepless would do.
"'Well, Saint Clair,' says he, laying down the book he was reading, 'I
Options |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Magic of Oz by L. Frank Baum: because my conscience won't let me."
Now of all the surprised beasts in that clearing, not one was so
much surprised at the sudden appearance of these four strangers as
Ruggedo the Nome. He was frightened, too, for he recognized them as
his most powerful enemies; but he also realized that they could not
know he was the former King of the Nomes, because of the beast's form
he wore, which disguised him so effectually. So he took courage and
resolved that the Wizard and Dorothy should not defeat his plans.
It was hard to tell, just yet, what the vast assemblage of beasts
thought of the new arrivals. Some glared angrily at them, but more of
them seemed to be curious and wondering. All were interested,
The Magic of Oz |
