| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Black Dwarf by Walter Scott: O, friend, thought Hobbie to himself, as he drew back, an I had
you but on Turner's-holm, [There is a level meadow, on the very
margin of the two kingdoms, called Turner's-holm, just where the
brook called Crissop joins the Liddel. It is said to have
derived its name as being a place frequently assigned for
tourneys, during the ancient Border times.] and naebody by but
twa honest lads to see fair play, I wad make ye wish ye had
broken your leg ere ye had touched beast or body that belanged to
me!
"He has a white feather in his wing this same Westburnflat, after
a'," said Simon of Hackburn, somewhat scandalized by his ready
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Roads of Destiny by O. Henry: they walked homeward together.
Three months afterwards they were married. David's father was shrewd
and prosperous. He gave them a wedding that was heard of three leagues
away. Both the young people were favourites in the village. There was
a procession in the streets, a dance on the green; they had the
marionettes and a tumbler out from Dreux to delight the guests.
Then a year, and David's father died. The sheep and the cottage
descended to him. He already had the seemliest wife in the village.
Yvonne's milk pails and her brass kettles were bright--/ouf/! they
blinded you in the sun when you passed that way. But you must keep
your eyes upon her yard, for her flower beds were so neat and gay they
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