| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Trooper Peter Halket of Mashonaland by Olive Schreiner: though you should stretch out your arms to welcome each stranger who comes
to live and labour with you. You are the twin branches of one tree; you
are the sons of one mother. Is this goodly land not wide enough for you,
that you should rend each other's flesh at the bidding of those who will
wet their beaks within both your vitals?--Look up, see, they circle in the
air above you!'"
Almost Peter Halket started and looked upward; but there was only the black
sky of Mashonaland over his head.
The stranger stood silent looking downward into the fire. Peter Halket
half clasped his arms about his knees.
"My master," he cried, "how can I take this message? The Dutchmen of South
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Heroes by Charles Kingsley: on the Iberian shore, till they came to the Pillars of
Hercules, and the Mediterranean Sea. And thence they sailed
on through the deeps of Sardinia, and past the Ausonian
islands, and the capes of the Tyrrhenian shore, till they
came to a flowery island, upon a still bright summer's eve.
And as they neared it, slowly and wearily, they heard sweet
songs upon the shore. But when Medeia heard it, she started,
and cried, 'Beware, all heroes, for these are the rocks of
the Sirens. You must pass close by them, for there is no
other channel; but those who listen to that song are lost.'
Then Orpheus spoke, the king of all minstrels, 'Let them
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde: his will guardian to his grand-daughter, Miss Cecily Cardew.
Cecily, who addresses me as her uncle from motives of respect that
you could not possibly appreciate, lives at my place in the country
under the charge of her admirable governess, Miss Prism.
ALGERNON. Where in that place in the country, by the way?
JACK. That is nothing to you, dear boy. You are not going to be
invited . . . I may tell you candidly that the place is not in
Shropshire.
ALGERNON. I suspected that, my dear fellow! I have Bunburyed all
over Shropshire on two separate occasions. Now, go on. Why are
you Ernest in town and Jack in the country?
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