| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Master Key by L. Frank Baum: pretty good pace, we're not up to the Demon of Electricity yet."
"What shall I do!" groaned the Apparition, wringing his hands
miserably; "oh, what shall I do!"
"Go home and lie down," replied Rob, sympathetically. "Take it easy
and don't get rattled. Nothing was every created without a use, they
say; so your turn will come some day, sure! I'm sorry for you, old
fellow, but it's all your own fault."
"You are right!" exclaimed the Demon, striding up and down the room,
and causing thereby such a crackling of electricity in the air that
Rob's hair became rigid enough to stand on end. "You are right, and I
must wait--wait--wait--patiently and silently--until my bonds are
The Master Key |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Eugenie Grandet by Honore de Balzac: hastily to his secret hiding-place, from whence he brought down about
a third of the jewels he had taken from his nephew, and gave them to
her.
"There, little one," he said in a sarcastic tone, "do you want those
for your twelve hundred francs?"
"Oh! father, truly? will you really give them to me?"
"I'll give you as many more next year," he said, throwing them into
her apron. "So before long you'll get all his gewgaws," he added,
rubbing his hands, delighted to be able to speculate on his daughter's
feelings.
Nevertheless, the old man, though still robust, felt the importance of
Eugenie Grandet |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from A Collection of Beatrix Potter by Beatrix Potter: that somebody was asleep
on Mr. Tod's bed, curled up under
the blanket.--"He has gone to bed
in his boots," whispered Peter.
Benjamin, who was all of a twitter,
pulled Peter off the window-sill.
Tommy Brock's snores continued,
grunty and regular from Mr. Tod's
bed. Nothing could be seen of the
young family.
The sun had set; an owl began
|
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 Philosophy 4 by Owen Wister: years. But for twenty years he had taken the same extreme joy in the
company of Johnnies, and they were bad for his health. Her final proof
that they belonged to this hated breed was when Mr. Diggs thumped the
trout down on the porch, and after briefly remarking, "Half of 'em
boiled, and half broiled with bacon," himself led away the gelding to
the stable instead of intrusting it to his man Silas.
"You may set in the parlor," said Mrs. Diggs, and departed stiffly with
the basket of trout.
"It's false," said Billy, at once.
Bertie did not grasp his thought.
"Her hair," said Billy. And certainly it was an unusual-looking
|
