| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Mountains by Stewart Edward White: in the course of a morning. Bullet had no such
troubles. Any of the mountain horses will hop cheerfully
up or down ledges anywhere. They will even walk
a log fifteen or twenty feet above a stream. I have
seen the same trick performed in Barnum's circus as
a wonderful feat, accompanied by brass bands and
breathlessness. We accomplished it on our trip with
out any brass bands; I cannot answer for the breathlessness.
As for steadiness of nerve, they will walk
serenely on the edge of precipices a man would hate
to look over, and given a palm's breadth for the soles
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Deputy of Arcis by Honore de Balzac: he went to see her, with the approval of the Marquis de Sallenauve,
and let her know that one of the most skilful sculptors in Paris was
ready to make her the statue of Saint-Ursula if she, on her side,
would promise to secure the artist's election as deputy from the
arrondissement of Arcis.
The old nun did not think the undertaking beyond her powers. She now
possesses the object of her pious longings; the statue arrived some
days ago, and is already in the chapel of the convent, where she
proposes to give it, before long, a solemn inauguration. It now
remains to be seen whether the good nun will perform her part of the
contract.
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Cousin Betty by Honore de Balzac: to the banker.
"Thanks on behalf of the company," said Bixiou with a bow.
"Tell me the real facts," Montes went on, heedless of Bixiou's
interjection.
"Well, then," replied du Tillet, "I have the honor to tell you that I
am asked to the Crevel wedding."
"Ah, ha! Combabus holds a brief for Madame Marneffe!" said Josepha,
rising solemnly.
She went round to Montes with a tragic look, patted him kindly on the
head, looked at him for a moment with comical admiration, and nodded
sagely.
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