| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Familiar Studies of Men and Books by Robert Louis Stevenson: The poor, he goes on, will always have a carping word to say,
or, if that outlet be denied, nourish rebellious thoughts.
It is a calumny on the noble army of the poor. Thousands in
a small way of life, ay, and even in the smallest, go through
life with tenfold as much honour and dignity and peace of
mind, as the rich gluttons whose dainties and state-beds
awakened Villon's covetous temper. And every morning's sun
sees thousands who pass whistling to their toil. But Villon
was the "mauvais pauvre" defined by Victor Hugo, and, in its
English expression, so admirably stereotyped by Dickens. He
was the first wicked sansculotte. He is the man of genius
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Spirit of the Border by Zane Grey: he grasped the knife, which Silvertip had been unable to hold with his
crippled hand, and thrust it deeply into the Indian's side.
All Silvertip's muscles relaxed as if a strong tension had been removed.
Slowly his legs straightened, his arms dropped, and from his side gushed a
dark flood. A shadow crept over his face, not dark nor white, but just a
shadow. His eyes lost their hate; they no longer saw the foe, they looked
beyond with gloomy question, and then were fixed cold in death. Silvertip died
as he had lived--a chief.
Joe glared round for Girty. He was gone, having slipped away during the fight.
The lad turned to release the poor prisoner, when he started back with a cry
of fear. Kate lay bathed in a pool of blood--dead. The renegade, fearing she
The Spirit of the Border |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum: "And I am going to ask him to give me a heart," said the Woodman.
"And I am going to ask him to send Toto and me back to Kansas,"
added Dorothy.
"Do you think Oz could give me courage?" asked the Cowardly Lion.
"Just as easily as he could give me brains," said the Scarecrow.
"Or give me a heart," said the Tin Woodman.
"Or send me back to Kansas," said Dorothy.
"Then, if you don't mind, I'll go with you," said the Lion,
"for my life is simply unbearable without a bit of courage."
"You will be very welcome," answered Dorothy, "for you will help
to keep away the other wild beasts. It seems to me they must be more
The Wizard of Oz |
