| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Glinda of Oz by L. Frank Baum: Dorothy. "You can do that, can't you?"
"I suppose so," replied the crab. "But if I do what
will you give me?"
"What do you wish?" Ozma inquired.
"I wish to be white, instead of green," said the
crab. "Green crabs are very common, and white ones are
rare; besides the purple spiders, which infest this
hillside, are afraid of white crabs. Could you make me
white if I should agree to cut the web for you?"
"Yes," said Ozma, "I can do that easily. And, so you
may know I am speaking the truth, I will change your
Glinda of Oz |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Kenilworth by Walter Scott: dared not do so, for her father had promised her hand to a
gentleman of birth and honour--I will do him justice, though I
know he bears me ill-will--one Master Edmund Tressilian, whom I
now see in the presence."
"Soh!" replied the Queen. "And what was your right to make the
simple fool break her worthy father's contract, through your love
PASSAGES, as your conceit and assurance terms them?"
"Madam," replied Varney, "it is in vain to plead the cause of
human frailty before a judge to whom it is unknown, or that of
love to one who never yields to the passion"--he paused an
instant, and then added, in a very low and timid tone--"which she
Kenilworth |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Options by O. Henry: "'We are on the lookout,' says he, 'for Black Bill, the man that held
up the Katy for $15,000 in May. We are searching the ranches and
everybody on 'em. What is your name, and what do you do on this
ranch?'
"'Captain,' says I, 'Percival Saint Clair is my occupation, and my
name is sheep-herder. I've got my flock of veals--no, muttons--penned
here to-night. The shearers are coming to-morrow to give them a hair-
cut--with baa-a-rum, I suppose.'
"'Where's the boss of this ranch?' the captain of the gang asks me.
"'Wait just a minute, cap'n,' says I. 'Wasn't there a kind of a
reward offered for the capture of this desperate character you have
Options |
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 The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane: His comrade grunted stubbornly. For a mo-
ment he seemed to be searching for a formidable
reply. Finally he said: "Well, you don't know
everything in the world, do you?"
"Didn't say I knew everything in the world,"
retorted the other sharply. He began to stow
various articles snugly into his knapsack.
The youth, pausing in his nervous walk, looked
down at the busy figure. "Going to be a battle,
sure, is there, Jim?" he asked.
"Of course there is," replied the tall soldier.
The Red Badge of Courage |
