| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Magic of Oz by L. Frank Baum: "It ain't so very big," said the old sailor, "but I don't weigh
much, an' you, Trot, don't weigh half as much as I do, an' the glass
pussy don't count."
"But it's safe, isn't it?" inquired the girl.
"Yes; it's good enough to carry us to the island an' back again, an'
that's about all we can expect of it."
Saying this, Cap'n Bill pushed the raft into the water, and when it
was afloat, stepped upon it and held out his hand to Trot, who quickly
followed him. The Glass Cat boarded the raft last of all.
The sailor had cut a long pole, and had also whittled a flat paddle,
and with these he easily propelled the raft across the river. As they
The Magic of Oz |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Middlemarch by George Eliot: in dark calf were Josephus, Culpepper, Klopstock's "Messiah,"
and several volumes of the "Gentleman's Magazine."
"Read me the names o' the books. Come now! you're a college man."
Fred gave him the titles.
"What did missy want with more books? What must you be bringing
her more books for?"
"They amuse her, sir. She is very fond of reading."
"A little too fond," said Mr. Featherstone, captiously. "She was
for reading when she sat with me. But I put a stop to that.
She's got the newspaper to read out loud. That's enough for one day,
I should think. I can't abide to see her reading to herself.
Middlemarch |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Options by O. Henry: "Carter.") Well, anyhow:
In digging up the Carteret history I shall not take you farther back
than the year 1620. The two original American Carterets came over in
that year, but by different means of transportation. One brother,
named John, came in the Mayflower and became a Pilgrim Father. You've
seen his picture on the covers of the Thanksgiving magazines, hunting
turkeys in the deep snow with a blunderbuss. Blandford Carteret, the
other brother, crossed the pond in his own brigantine, landed on the
Virginia coast, and became an F.F.V. John became distinguished for
piety and shrewdness in business; Blandford for his pride, juleps;
marksmanship, and vast slave-cultivated plantations.
Options |
