| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen: others, however, did make fun of him, after all.
There were three, therefore, that did not go; the others hastened on. The sun
shone, the birds sang, and the children sang too, and each held the other by
the hand; for as yet they had none of them any high office, and were all of
equal rank in the eye of God.
But two of the youngest soon grew tired, and both returned to town; two little
girls sat down, and twined garlands, so they did not go either; and when the
others reached the willow-tree, where the confectioner was, they said, "Now we
are there! In reality the bell does not exist; it is only a fancy that people
have taken into their heads!"
At the same moment the bell sounded deep in the wood, so clear and solemnly
 Fairy Tales |
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 My Antonia by Willa Cather: of glamour over them. The trouble with you, Jim, is that
you're romantic. Mama's going to your Commencement. She asked
me the other day if I knew what your oration is to be about.
She wants you to do well.'
I thought my oration very good. It stated with fervour
a great many things I had lately discovered. Mrs. Harling
came to the Opera House to hear the Commencement exercises,
and I looked at her most of the time while I made my speech.
Her keen, intelligent eyes never left my face.
Afterward she came back to the dressing-room where we stood,
with our diplomas in our hands, walked up to me, and said heartily:
 My Antonia |