| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Europeans by Henry James: She turned her head and gave him a little stare.
"Do you desire the credit of it?"
"If you like, I will take the blame," he said, looking up with a smile.
"Yes," she rejoined in a moment, "you make no difference in these things.
You have no sense of property."
The young man gave his joyous laugh again. "If that means I have no property,
you are right!"
"Don't joke about your poverty," said his sister.
"That is quite as vulgar as to boast about it."
"My poverty! I have just finished a drawing that will bring
me fifty francs!"
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum: cast more than one admiring glance at her clever master. Perhaps she
felt the same satisfaction we feel when we look upon good photographs
of ourselves.
The cat's master was himself pleased with his handiwork, without
knowing exactly why. Indeed, he had great cause to congratulate
himself that night, and all the children throughout the world should
have joined him rejoicing. For Claus had made his first toy.
3. How the Ryls Colored the Toys
A hush lay on the Laughing Valley now. Snow covered it like a white
spread and pillows of downy flakes drifted before the dwelling where
Claus sat feeding the blaze of the fire. The brook gurgled on beneath
 The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus |