| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe: where they could not see him; but they heard the sharp, hasty tramp,
rising nearer and nearer; at last they saw him emerge on the top
of an eminence, within hail.
"Yes, that's Michael!" said Phineas; and, raising his voice,
"Halloa, there, Michael!"
"Phineas! is that thee?"
"Yes; what news--they coming?"
"Right on behind, eight or ten of them, hot with brandy,
swearing and foaming like so many wolves."
And, just as he spoke, a breeze brought the faint sound of
galloping horsemen towards them.
Uncle Tom's Cabin |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from When a Man Marries by Mary Roberts Rinehart: something in the darkness and say that if it was a joke, he
wasn't in the humor for it. To which Jim retorted that it wasn't
anything resembling a joke, and for heaven's sake not to walk on
his feet; he couldn't get around the furniture any faster.
At the door of the den Mr. Harbison stopped, blinking in the
light. Then, when he saw us, he tried to back himself and his
dishabille out into the obscurity of the library. But Aunt Selina
was too quick for him.
"Come in," she called, "I want you, young man. It seems that
there are only two fools in the house, and you are one."
He straightened at that and looked bewildered, but he tried to
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe: mind,--you may live to be a poor, old, cut-up crittur, like me.
Hope to the Lord ye will, I do; then see if ye won't
drink,--drink,--drink,--yerself into torment; and sarve ye right,
too--ugh!" and, with a malignant howl, the woman left the room.
"Disgusting old beast!" said Adolph, who was getting his
master's shaving-water. "If I was her master, I'd cut her up worse
than she is."
"Ye couldn't do that ar, no ways," said Dinah. "Her back's
a far sight now,--she can't never get a dress together over it."
"I think such low creatures ought not to be allowed to go
round to genteel families," said Miss Jane. "What do you think,
Uncle Tom's Cabin |
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 The Pupil by Henry James: curiosities, Lord Dorrington carried himself as a man of the world;
wondering too whether, for such services, his companions took a fee
from him. The autumn at any rate waned, the Dorringtons departed,
and Lord Verschoyle, the eldest son, had proposed neither for Amy
nor for Paula.
One sad November day, while the wind roared round the old palace
and the rain lashed the lagoon, Pemberton, for exercise and even
somewhat for warmth - the Moreens were horribly frugal about fires;
it was a cause of suffering to their inmate - walked up and down
the big bare sala with his pupil. The scagliola floor was cold,
the high battered casements shook in the storm, and the stately
|
