| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Walking by Henry David Thoreau: I know not how significant it is, or how far it is an evidence of
singularity, that an individual should thus consent in his
pettiest walk with the general movement of the race; but I know
that something akin to the migratory instinct in birds and
quadrupeds--which, in some instances, is known to have affected
the squirrel tribe, impelling them to a general and mysterious
movement, in which they were seen, say some, crossing the
broadest rivers, each on its particular chip, with its tail
raised for a sail, and bridging narrower streams with their
dead--that something like the furor which affects the domestic
cattle in the spring, and which is referred to a worm in their
 Walking |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from In a German Pension by Katherine Mansfield: packed four of the five babies to bed, allowing Rosa to stay with her and
help to polish the buttons of Herr Brechenmacher's uniform. Then she ran
over his best shirt with a hot iron, polished his boots, and put a stitch
or two into his black satin necktie.
"Rosa," she said, "fetch my dress and hang it in front of the stove to get
the creases out. Now, mind, you must look after the children and not sit
up later than half-past eight, and not touch the lamp--you know what will
happen if you do."
"Yes, Mamma," said Rosa, who was nine and felt old enough to manage a
thousand lamps. "But let me stay up--the 'Bub' may wake and want some
milk."
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Astoria by Washington Irving: to steer among them. Mr. Crooks was seated in the second canoe of
the squadron, and had an old experienced Canadian for steersman,
named Antoine Clappine, one of the most valuable of the
voyageurs. The leading canoe had glided safely among the
turbulent and roaring surges, but in following it, Mr. Crooks
perceived that his canoe was bearing towards a rock. He called
out to the steersman, but his warning voice was either unheard or
unheeded. In the next moment they struck upon the rock. The canoe
was split and overturned. There were five persons on board. Mr.
Crooks and one of his companions were thrown amidst roaring
breakers and a whirling current, but succeeded, by strong
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