| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Black Beauty by Anna Sewell: a little higher and a little higher every day. A gentleman who was there
asked him why he did so. `Because,' said he, `people won't buy them
unless we do. The London people always want their horses
to carry their heads high and to step high. Of course it is very bad
for the horses, but then it is good for trade. The horses soon wear up,
or get diseased, and they come for another pair.' That," said Max,
"is what he said in my hearing, and you can judge for yourself."
What I suffered with that rein for four long months in my lady's carriage
it would be hard to describe; but I am quite sure that, had it lasted
much longer, either my health or my temper would have given way.
Before that, I never knew what it was to foam at the mouth,
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain: after squall, then climax the thing with "holding his breath"--
that frightful specialty of the teething nursling, in the throes of
which the creature exhausts its lungs, then is convulsed with noiseless
squirmings and twistings and kickings in the effort to get its breath,
while the lips turn blue and the mouth stands wide and rigid,
offering for inspection one wee tooth set in the lower rim of a hoop
of red gums; and when the appalling stillness has endured until one
is sure the lost breath will never return, a nurse comes flying,
and dashes water in the child's face, and--presto! the lungs fill,
and instantly discharge a shriek, or a yell, or a howl which bursts the
listening ear and surprises the owner of it into saying words which
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Damaged Goods by Upton Sinclair: had this very day a conversation wit the father.' So I said
'Very well,' and he said he would come at once."
George turned away, and put his hands to his forehead. "My poor
little daughter!" he whispered to himself.
"Yes," said the mother, her voice breaking, "she is, indeed, a
poor little daughter!"
A silence fell; for what could words avail in such a situation?
Hearing the door open, Madame Dupont started, for her nerves were
all a-quiver with the strain she had been under. A servant came
in and spoke to her, and she said to George, "It is the doctor.
If you need me, I shall be in the next room."
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