| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Happy Prince and Other Tales by Oscar Wilde: off, leaf by leaf, and give it to my poor; the living always think
that gold can make them happy."
Leaf after leaf of the fine gold the Swallow picked off, till the
Happy Prince looked quite dull and grey. Leaf after leaf of the
fine gold he brought to the poor, and the children's faces grew
rosier, and they laughed and played games in the street. "We have
bread now!" they cried.
Then the snow came, and after the snow came the frost. The streets
looked as if they were made of silver, they were so bright and
glistening; long icicles like crystal daggers hung down from the
eaves of the houses, everybody went about in furs, and the little
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Story of an African Farm by Olive Schreiner: about in a confusion that makes the head ache. We of this generation are
not destined to eat and be satisfied as our fathers were; we must be
content to go hungry."
He smiled his automaton smile, and rebuttoned the bag. Waldo thrust the
book into his breast, and while he saddled the horse the stranger made
inquiries as to the nature of the road and the distance to the next farm.
When the bags were fixed, Waldo took up his wooden post and began to fasten
it on to the saddle, tying it with the little blue cotton handkerchief from
his neck. The stranger looked on in silence. When it was done the boy
held the stirrup for him to mount.
"What is your name?" he inquired, ungloving his right hand when he was in
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from House of Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne: Believe me, if I were really aware of any secret, the disclosure
of which would benefit your friends,--who are my own friends,
likewise,--you should learn it before we part. But I have no
such knowledge."
"You hold something back!" said Phoebe.
"Nothing,--no secrets but my own," answered Holgrave. "I can
perceive, indeed, that Judge Pyncheon still keeps his eye on
Clifford, in whose ruin he had so large a share. His motives
and intentions, however are a mystery to me. He is a determined
and relentless man, with the genuine character of an inquisitor;
and had he any object to gain by putting Clifford to the rack,
House of Seven Gables |
The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from The Man in Lower Ten by Mary Roberts Rinehart: As we passed along the aisle, I was conscious of a new expression
on the faces of the passengers. The tall woman who had fainted was
searching my face with narrowed eyes, while the stout woman of the
kindly heart avoided my gaze, and pretended to look out the window.
As we pushed our way through the group, I fancied that it closed
around me ominously. The conductor said nothing, but led the way
without ceremony to the side of the berth.
"What's the matter?" I inquired. I was puzzled, but not
apprehensive. "Have you some of my things? I'd be thankful even
for my shoes; these are confoundedly tight."
Nobody spoke, and I fell silent, too. For one of the pillows had
The Man in Lower Ten |
