| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Frances Waldeaux by Rebecca Davis: something in me that I must say, so I tried to write
poems. No, I never told you before. It had counted for
so much to me I could not talk of it. I always sent them
to the paper anonymously, signed `Sidney.' Oh, it was
long--long ago! I've been dumb, as you might say, for
years. But when I read your article, George--do you know
if I had written it I should have used just the phrases
you did? And you signed it `Sidney'!" She watched him
breathlessly. "That was more than a coincidence, don't
you think? I AM dumb, but you speak for me now. It is
because we are just one. Don't you think so, George?"
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Blix by Frank Norris: Billy needed was a ticket seller an' an advance agent, an' he was
a whole show in himself."
"We're going to send it East," said Blix, "as soon as it's
finished, and have it published."
"Well, it ought to make prime readin', Miss; an' that's a good
fetchin' title, 'In Defiance of Authority.'"
Regularly Wednesday and Sunday afternoons, Blix and Condy came out
to the lifeboat station. Captain Jack received them in sweater
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Sesame and Lilies by John Ruskin: distinction of species. There are good books for the hour, and good
ones for all time; bad books for the hour, and bad ones for all
time. I must define the two kinds before I go farther.
The good book of the hour, then,--I do not speak of the bad ones,--
is simply the useful or pleasant talk of some person whom you cannot
otherwise converse with, printed for you. Very useful often,
telling you what you need to know; very pleasant often, as a
sensible friend's present talk would be. These bright accounts of
travels; good-humoured and witty discussions of question; lively or
pathetic story-telling in the form of novel; firm fact-telling, by
the real agents concerned in the events of passing history;--all
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