| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Tanglewood Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne: than the bed, this wicked villain stretched them out by main
force; or, if they were too tall, he lopped off their heads or
feet, and laughed at what he had done, as an excellent joke.
Thus, however weary a man might be, he never liked to lie in
the bed of Procrustes. Another of these robbers, named Scinis,
must likewise have been a very great scoundrel. He was in the
habit of flinging his victims off a high cliff into the sea;
and, in order to give him exactly his deserts, Theseus tossed
him off the very same place. But if you will believe me, the
sea would not pollute itself by receiving such a bad person
into its bosom; neither would the earth, having once got rid of
 Tanglewood Tales |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Flower Fables by Louisa May Alcott: a merry peal, and filled the air with their fragrant breath.
On came the fairy boat, till it reached a moss-grown rock; and here
it stopped, while the Fairies rested beneath the violet-leaves,
and sang with the dancing waves.
Eva looked with wonder on their gay faces and bright garments, and
in the joy of her heart sang too, and threw crimson fruit for the
little folks to feast upon.
They looked kindly on the child, and, after whispering long among
themselves, two little bright-eyed Elves flew over the shining water,
and, lighting on the clover-blossoms, said gently, "Little maiden,
many thanks for your kindness; and our Queen bids us ask if you will
 Flower Fables |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Tattine by Ruth Ogden [Mrs. Charles W. Ide]: Cornwells', but we've had an awful fright. Is Barney home? When the hail came
I tied him to a tree and we ran into the log house, but he broke away the next
minute and took to his heels and ran as fast as his legs could carry him.
Barney's an awful fraud, Mrs. Gerald."
But Mrs. Gerald had no time just then to give heed to Barney's misdoings.
Seizing a wrap from the hall, she ordered Rudolph into the house and to bed,
as quickly as he could be gotten there, sent Philip to Rudolph's Mother with
the word that the children were safe, and then started off in the wagonette to
bring Mabel and Tattine home.
"Mamma," said Tattine, snuggling her wet little self close to her Mother's
side in the carriage, "Rudolph was just splendid, the way he hauled Barnev and
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