| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Pocket Diary Found in the Snow by Grace Isabel Colbron and Augusta Groner: "What I have done is only what any one could do who has that
particular faculty. I do only what is in human power to do, and
the cleverest criminal can do no more. Besides which, we all know
that every criminal commits some stupidity, and leaves some trace
behind him. If it is really a crime which we have found the trace
of here, we will soon discover it." Muller's editorial "we" was a
matter of formality. He might with more truth have used the
singular pronoun.
"Very well, then, do what you can," said the commissioner with a
friendly smile.
The older man nodded, took the book and its wrappings from the
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Tales of the Klondyke by Jack London: from the point above, cast loose the canoes, and by then had
worked them into the current. When they had drifted out of rifle-
shot they clambered over the sides and paddled ashore.
"Give me the priest, and you may have them back again. Come!
Speak your mind, but without haste."
Stockard shook his head. His glance dropped to the woman of the
Teslin Country with his boy at her breast, and he would have
wavered had he not lifted his eyes to the men before him.
"I am not afraid," Sturges Owen spoke up. "The Lord bears me in
his right hand, and alone am I ready to go into the camp of the
unbeliever. It is not too late. Faith may move mountains. Even
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce: of the sergeant. At a signal from the former the latter
would step aside, the plank would tilt and the condemned man
go down between two ties. The arrangement commended itself
to his judgement as simple and effective. His face had not
been covered nor his eyes bandaged. He looked a moment at
his "unsteadfast footing," then let his gaze wander to the
swirling water of the stream racing madly beneath his feet.
A piece of dancing driftwood caught his attention and his
eyes followed it down the current. How slowly it appeared
to move! What a sluggish stream!
He closed his eyes in order to fix his last thoughts upon his
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge |
