| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Vailima Prayers & Sabbath Morn by Robert Louis Stevenson: natives satisfied, but, what we did not foresee, our own
respectability - and incidentally that of our retainers - became
assured, and the influence of Tusitala increased tenfold.
After all work and meals were finished, the 'pu,' or war conch, was
sounded from the back veranda and the front, so that it might be
heard by all. I don't think it ever occurred to us that there was
any incongruity in the use of the war conch for the peaceful
invitation to prayer. In response to its summons the white members
of the family took their usual places in one end of the large hall,
while the Samoans - men, women, and children - trooped in through
all the open doors, some carrying lanterns if the evening were
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Light of Western Stars by Zane Grey: Evidently all the horses had been brought out of hiding.
Swiftly, with regard only for life and limb, Madeline, Helen, and
Christine were lowered by lassoes and half carried down to the
level. By the time they were safely down the other members of
the party appeared on the cliff above. They were in excellent
spirits, appearing to treat the matter as a huge joke.
Ambrose put Christine on a horse and rode away through the pines;
Frankie Slade did likewise with Helen. Stewart led Madeline's
horse up to her, helped her to mount, and spoke one stern word,
"Wait!" Then as fast as one of the women reached the level she
was put upon a horse and taken away by a cowboy escort. Few
The Light of Western Stars |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from End of the Tether by Joseph Conrad: like martello towers; over the pyramidal heaps like fallen
ruins, over the lines of bald bowlders showing like a wall
of stones battered to pieces and scorched by lightning--
with the sleepy, clear glimmer of water in every breach.
The noise of their continuous and violent screaming
filled the air.
This great noise would meet the Sofala coming up from
Batu Beru; it would meet her on quiet evenings, a piti-
less and savage clamor enfeebled by distance, the
clamor of seabirds settling to rest, and struggling for
a footing at the end of the day. No one noticed it
End of the Tether |
