| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Across The Plains by Robert Louis Stevenson: from that again, by the loss of its charter and town lands, to a
mere bankrupt village, its rise and decline is typical of that of
all Mexican institutions and even Mexican families in California.
Nothing is stranger in that strange State than the rapidity with
which the soil has changed-hands. The Mexicans, you may say, are
all poor and landless, like their former capital; and yet both it
and they hold themselves apart and preserve their ancient customs
and something of their ancient air.
The town, when I was there, was a place of two or three streets,
economically paved with sea-sand, and two or three lanes, which
were watercourses in the rainy season, and were, at all times, rent
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Wyoming by William MacLeod Raine: extra ponies were brought in the remuda. For the riding is so
hard during the round-up that a horse can stand only one day in
four of it. At the appointed rendezvous a score of other cowboys
and owners met them. Without any delay they proceeded to
business. Mr. Bob Austin, better known as "Texas," was elected
boss of the round-up, and he immediately assigned the men to
their places and announced that they would work Squaw Creek. They
moved camp at once, Helen returning to the ranch.
It was three o'clock in the morning when the men were roused by
the cook's triangle calling them to the "chuck wagon" for
breakfast. It was still cold and dark as the boys crawled from
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Dynamiter by Robert Louis Stevenson and Fanny Van De Grift Stevenson: come dropping from the moon. I am delighted to find you
faithful; and I have no doubt you will be equally pleased to
be restored to liberty.'
Somerset could find no words, whether of protest or welcome;
and the spirited old lady pushed briskly by him and paused on
the threshold of the dining-room. The sight that met her
eyes was one well calculated to inspire astonishment. The
mantelpiece was arrayed with saucepans and empty bottles; on
the fire some chops were frying; the floor was littered from
end to end with books, clothes, walking-canes and the
materials of the painter's craft; but what far outstripped
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