| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Modeste Mignon by Honore de Balzac: where I delivered my cargoes to the companies who control the
trade. My last expedition was to the Philippine Islands where I
exchanged opium for indigo of the first quality. In fact, I may
have half a million more than I stated, for I reckoned the indigo
at what it cost me. I have always been well in health; not the
slightest illness. That is the result of working for one's
children. Since the second year I have owned a pretty little brig
of seven hundred tons, called the "Mignon." She is built of oak,
double-planked, and copper-fastened; and all the interior fittings
were done to suit me. She is, in fact, an additional piece of
property.
Modeste Mignon |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from One Basket by Edna Ferber: "They say his airyoplane fell ten thousand feet----"
"The news come only last evening about eight----"
"She won't see nobody but her pa----"
Eight! At eight Tessie had been standing outside Hatton's house,
envying Angie and hating her. So that explained the people, and
the automobiles, and the excitement. Tessie was not receiving
the news with the dramatic reaction which its purveyors felt it
deserved. Tessie, turning from one to the other quietly, had
said nothing. She was pitying Angie. Oh, the luxury of it! Nap
Ballou, coming in swiftly to still the unwonted commotion in work
hours, found Tessie the only one quietly occupied in that
One Basket |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Old Indian Legends by Zitkala-Sa: arrow in his right hand, he started off eastward. Imitating the
swaying strides of the avenger, he walked away with a face turned
slightly skyward.
"Oh, set me free! I am glued to the tree like its own bark!
Cut me loose!" moaned the prisoner.
A young woman, carrying on her strong back a bundle of tightly
bound willow sticks, passed near by the lonely teepee. She heard
the wailing man's voice. She paused to listen to the sad words.
Looking around she saw nowhere a human creature. "It may be a
spirit," thought she.
"Oh! cut me loose! set me free! Iktomi has played me false!
|
