| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Hated Son by Honore de Balzac: that her end was approaching, death was hastened by the gloomy
apprehensions that filled her mind as to the future.
"What will become of my poor child without me?" was a thought renewed
every hour like a bitter tide.
Obliged at last to keep her bed, the duchess failed rapidly, for she
was then unable to see her son, forbidden as he was by her compact
with his father to approach the house. The sorrow of the youth was
equal to that of the mother. Inspired by the genius of repressed
feeling, Etienne created a mystical language by which to communicate
with his mother. He studied the resources of his voice like an opera-
singer, and often he came beneath her windows to let her hear his
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Spirit of the Border by Zane Grey: The young missionary came out of the open door, and the two young men greeted
each other warmly.
"How is she?" asked Christy, when the first greetings had been exchanged.
"Nell's just beginning to get over the shock. She'll be glad to see you."
"Jonathan tells me you got married just before Girty came up with you at
Beautiful Spring."
"Yes; it is true. In fact, the whole wonderful story is true, yet I cannot
believe as yet. You look thin and haggard. When we last met you were well."
"That awful time pulled me down. I was an unwilling spectator of all that
horrible massacre, and shall never get over it. I can still see the fiendish
savages running about with the reeking scalps of their own people. I actually
 The Spirit of the Border |