| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Lesser Bourgeoisie by Honore de Balzac: relinquishment of his claim by ten o'clock to-morrow morning. What
does this Sauvaignou want? Nothing but money. Well, a haggler like
that won't resist the attraction of an extra thousand francs,
especially if he is only the instrument of a cupidity behind him. It
is no matter to us how he fights it out with those who prompt him.
Now, then, do you think you can get the Thuillier family out of this?"
"I'll go and see Desroches at once," said Godeschal.
"Not before Thuillier gives you a power of attorney and five hundred
francs. The money should be on the table in a case like this."
After the interview with Thuillier was over, la Peyrade took Godeschal
in the carriage to the rue du Bethizy, where Desroches lived,
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne: hands as he spoke:--Brother Toby, said he:--I beg thy pardon;--forgive, I
pray thee, this rash humour which my mother gave me.--My dear, dear
brother, answered my uncle Toby, rising up by my father's help, say no more
about it;--you are heartily welcome, had it been ten times as much,
brother. But 'tis ungenerous, replied my father, to hurt any man;--a
brother worse;--but to hurt a brother of such gentle manners,--so
unprovoking,--and so unresenting;--'tis base:--By Heaven, 'tis cowardly.--
You are heartily welcome, brother, quoth my uncle Toby,--had it been fifty
times as much.--Besides, what have I to do, my dear Toby, cried my father,
either with your amusements or your pleasures, unless it was in my power
(which it is not) to increase their measure?
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Fanny Herself by Edna Ferber: more than that of any mother.
Molly Brandeis went back to Winnebago and the store with her
shoulders a little more consciously squared, her jaw a
little more firmly set. There was something almost terrible
about her concentrativeness. Together she and Fanny began a
life of self-denial of which only a woman could be capable.
They saved in ways that only a woman's mind could devise;
petty ways, that included cream and ice, and clothes, and
candy. It was rather fun at first. When that wore off it
had become a habit. Mrs. Brandeis made two resolutions
regarding Fanny. One was that she should have at least a
Fanny Herself |
