| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Records of a Family of Engineers by Robert Louis Stevenson: was left on board of the ship, as he also acted in the
capacity of assistant lightkeeper, being, besides, a person
who was apt to feel discontent and to be averse to changing
his quarters, especially to work with the millwrights and
joiners at the rock, who often, for hours together, wrought
knee-deep, and not unfrequently up to the middle, in water.
Mr. Watt having about this time made a requisition for another
hand, the carpenter was ordered to attend the rock in the
floating light's boat. This he did with great reluctance, and
found so much fault that he soon got into discredit with his
messmates. On this occasion he left the Lighthouse service,
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Illustrious Gaudissart by Honore de Balzac: Mitouflet tells me you have the greatest influence. Monsieur, I am
sent into the provinces on an enterprise of the utmost importance,
undertaken by bankers who--"
"Who mean to win our tricks," said Vernier, long used to the ways of
commercial travellers and to their periodical visits.
"Precisely," replied Gaudissart, with native impudence. "But with your
fine tact, Monsieur, you must be aware that we can't win tricks from
people unless it is their interest to play at cards. I beg you not to
confound me with the vulgar herd of travellers who succeed by humbug
or importunity. I am no longer a commercial traveller. I was one, and
I glory in it; but to-day my mission is of higher importance, and
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Underground City by Jules Verne: he had early begun his education, and at an age when most lads
are little more than apprentices, he had managed to make himself
of some importance, a leader, in fact, among his fellows,
and few are very ignorant in a country which does all it can
to remove ignorance. Though, during the first years of his youth,
the pick was never out of Harry's hand, nevertheless the young
miner was not long in acquiring sufficient knowledge to raise
him into the upper class of the miners, and he would certainly
have succeeded his father as overman of the Dochart pit,
if the colliery had not been abandoned.
James Starr was still a good walker, yet he could not easily
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