| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Wrong Box by Stevenson & Osbourne: He strode into the dining-room, fell into the easy-chair, and
taking off one of his burst walking-shoes, nursed for a while his
foot like one in agony. 'I'm lame for life,' he said. 'What is
there for dinner?'
'Nothing, Johnny,' said Morris.
'Nothing? What do you mean by that?' enquired the Great Vance.
'Don't set up your chat to me!'
'I mean simply nothing,' said his brother. 'I have nothing to
eat, and nothing to buy it with. I've only had a cup of tea and a
sandwich all this day myself.'
'Only a sandwich?' sneered Vance. 'I suppose YOU'RE going to
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Tattine by Ruth Ogden [Mrs. Charles W. Ide]: "Bless your heart, but I'm glad you thought to mintion it," and then Patrick
and Mrs. Kirk gave each little extended hand a hearty shake, and the
children--declaring over and over that "they had a lovely time and were so
much obliged for the geese"--climbed into the cart and set off for home.
"I'd go the short cut by the ford," advised Patrick; "it looks like we might
get a shower by sunset."
"Yes, I think we would better," said Rudolph, glancing toward the clouds in
the west Rudolph prided himself on his ability to forecast the weather, and
was generally able to tell correctly when a shower was pretty sure to come and
when it was likely to "go round."
So Barney was coaxed into a good gait, which he was ready as a rule to take
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Manon Lescaut by Abbe Prevost: the counsels of so virtuous a friend. He then took me to a
banker of his acquaintance, who gave one hundred and seventy
crowns for his note of hand, which was taken as cash. I have
already said that he was not rich. His living was worth about
six thousand francs a year, but as this was the first year since
his induction, he had as yet touched none of the receipts, and it
was out of the future income that he made me this advance.
"I felt the full force of his generosity, even to such a degree
as almost to deplore the fatal passion which thus led me to break
through all the restraints of duty. Virtue had for a moment the
ascendancy in my heart, and made me sensible of my shame and
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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 Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery: anxious faces sorrowfully and the tears came into her eyes.
"Oh, Marilla," she said gravely. "I don't think--we can do
anything for him."
"Mrs. Lynde, you don't think--you can't think Matthew is-- is--"
Anne could not say the dreadful word; she turned sick and pallid.
"Child, yes, I'm afraid of it. Look at his face. When you've
seen that look as often as I have you'll know what it means."
Anne looked at the still face and there beheld the seal of
the Great Presence.
When the doctor came he said that death had been instantaneous
and probably painless, caused in all likelihood by some sudden shock.
Anne of Green Gables |
