| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from My Bondage and My Freedom by Frederick Douglass: the cars for the accommodation of passengers generally. Thus
seated, I was sure to be called upon to betake myself to the
"_Jim Crow car_." Refusing to obey, I was often dragged out of
my seat, beaten, and severely bruised, by conductors and
brakemen. Attempting to start from Lynn, one day, for
Newburyport, on the Eastern railroad, I went, as my custom was,
into one of the best railroad carriages on the road. The seats
were very luxuriant and beautiful. I was soon waited upon by the
conductor, and ordered out; whereupon I demanded the reason for
my invidious removal. After a good deal of parleying, I was told
that it was because I <310>was black. This I denied, and
My Bondage and My Freedom |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Confessio Amantis by John Gower: Sailende goth, upon his weie
It hapneth him at Rodopeie,
As Eolus him hadde blowe,
To londe, and rested for a throwe.
And fell that ilke time thus,
The dowhter of Ligurgius,
Which qweene was of the contre,
Was sojournende in that Cite 740
Withinne a Castell nyh the stronde,
Wher Demephon cam up to londe.
Phillis sche hihte, and of yong age
Confessio Amantis |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Light of Western Stars by Zane Grey: him.
"Gene! Why, Gene!" panted the old cattleman. "Sure you're
locoed--to act this way. Cool down! Cool down! Why, boy, it's
all right. Jest stand still--give us a chance to talk to you.
It's only ole Bill, you know--your ole pal who's tried to be a
daddy to you. He's only wantin' you to hev sense--to be cool--to
wait."
"Let me go! Let me go!" cried Stewart; and the poignancy of that
cry pierced Madeline's heart. "Let me go, Bill, if you're my
friend. I saved your life once--over in the desert. You swore
you'd never forget. Boys, make him let me go! Oh, I don't care
The Light of Western Stars |
