| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Devil's Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce: embodiment of his sovereign's hostility. His principal qualification
is a degree of plausible inveracity next below that of an ambassador.
MINOR, adj. Less objectionable.
MINSTREL, adj. Formerly a poet, singer or musician; now a nigger with
a color less than skin deep and a humor more than flesh and blood can
bear.
MIRACLE, n. An act or event out of the order of nature and
unaccountable, as beating a normal hand of four kings and an ace with
four aces and a king.
MISCREANT, n. A person of the highest degree of unworth.
Etymologically, the word means unbeliever, and its present
The Devil's Dictionary |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley: "Most heroical captain," says cary, pulling a long face, "if we do,
we are stove and sunk in five minutes; not to mention that Yeo says
he has not twenty rounds of great cartridge left."
So, surely and silent, the Vengeance sheers off, but keeps as near
as she can to the little squadron, all through the night of rain
and thunder which follows. Next morning the sun rises on a clear
sky, with a strong west-north-west breeze, and all hearts are
asking what the day will bring forth.
They are long past Dunkirk now; the German Ocean is opening before
them. The Spaniards, sorely battered, and lessened in numbers,
have, during the night, regained some sort of order. The English
|
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Fantastic Fables by Ambrose Bierce: will probably offer them. Do you mean to - "
"I should not think of making a corrupt proposal to you, sir; but
if I were Commissioner of Shrimps and Crabs, I might have some
influence with the water-front population, and be able to help you
make your fight for Coroner."
"In that case I do not feel justified in denying you the letter."
So he took his pen, and, some demon guiding his hand, he wrote,
greatly to his astonishment:
"Who sells his influence should stop it,
An honest man will only swap it."
The Rainmaker
Fantastic Fables |
