| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain: but de biggest quality dey is in de whole bilin'. _Oh_, I's _so_ glad I
'member 'bout dat!"
She got lighthearted and happy, and went to the cradles, and spent what
was left of the night "practicing." She would give her own child a
light pat and say humbly, "Lay still, Marse Tom," then give the real
Tom a pat and say with severity, "Lay _still_, Chambers! Does you want
me to take somep'n _to_ you?"
As she progressed with her practice, she was surprised to see how steadily
and surely the awe which had kept her tongue reverent and her manner
humble toward her young master was transferring itself to her speech
and manner toward the usurper, and how similarly handy she was becoming
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Underdogs by Mariano Azuela: "Well, and her? What sort of a face did she make
coming back?" one of the men inquired.
"Hum! She was so damned happy she was gabbing
all the way."
"And the tenderfoot?"
"Just as quiet as he always is, you know him."
"I think," Venancio expressed his opinion with great
seriousness, "that if Camilla woke up in the General's
bed, it was just a mistake. We drank a lot, remember!
That alcohol went to our heads; we must have lost our
senses."
The Underdogs |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from An International Episode by Henry James: That's about what I mean to say."
"Well, if your own people are content with you,"
said Bessie Alden, laughing, "it is not for me to complain.
But I shall always think that, properly, you should have been
a great mind--a great character."
"Ah, that's very theoretic," Lord Lambeth declared.
"Depend upon it, that's a Yankee prejudice."
"Happy the country," said Bessie Alden, "where even people's
prejudices are so elevated!"
"Well, after all," observed Lord Lambeth, "I don't know that I am
such a fool as you are trying to make me out."
|
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 Montezuma's Daughter by H. Rider Haggard: 'And how can I know that you are a true messenger. It chanced that
I had sure tidings of the drowning of Thomas Wingfield many years
ago, and this tale of Indians and princesses is wondrous strange,
more like those that happen in romances than in this plain world.
Have you no token of your good faith, sir?'
'I have such a token, senora, but the light is too faint for you to
see it.'
'Then follow me to the house, there we will get light. Stay,' and
once more going to the stable gate, she called 'John.'
An old man answered her, and I knew the voice for that of one of my
father's serving men. To him she spoke in low tones, then led the
Montezuma's Daughter |
