| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum: around to all the houses, just before Christmas, and gather up the
notes and letters to Santa Claus that the children had written,
telling what they wished put in their stockings or hung on their
Christmas trees. But Kilter was a silent fellow, and seldom spoke of
what he saw in the cities and villages. The others were very indignant.
"Those people act as if they do not wish their children to be made
happy!" said sensible Peter, in a vexed tone. "The idea of shutting
out such a generous friend to their little ones!"
"But it is my intention to make children happy whether their parents
wish it or not," returned Santa Claus. "Years ago, when I first
began making toys, children were even more neglected by their parents
The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Twice Told Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne: Mine host and the old loyalist and I bestowed no
little warmth of applause upon this narrative, in which we had
all been deeply interested; for the reader can scarcely conceive
how unspeakably the effect of such a tale is heightened when, as
in the present case, we may repose perfect confidence in the
veracity of him who tells it. For my own part, knowing how
scrupulous is Mr. Tiffany to settle the foundation of his facts,
I could not have believed him one whit the more faithfully had he
professed himself an eye-witness of the doings and sufferings of
poor Lady Eleanore. Some sceptics, it is true, might demand
documentary evidence, or even require him to produce the
Twice Told Tales |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from A House of Pomegranates by Oscar Wilde: and by the elaborate grace of their slow gestures, and stately
bows, and when they had finished their performance and doffed their
great plumed hats to the Infanta, she acknowledged their reverence
with much courtesy, and made a vow that she would send a large wax
candle to the shrine of Our Lady of Pilar in return for the
pleasure that she had given her.
A troop of handsome Egyptians - as the gipsies were termed in those
days - then advanced into the arena, and sitting down cross-legs,
in a circle, began to play softly upon their zithers, moving their
bodies to the tune, and humming, almost below their breath, a low
dreamy air. When they caught sight of Don Pedro they scowled at
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