| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Mansion by Henry van Dyke: in
the Bible about 'a house that hath foundations.' That is the
proper kind of
a mansion for a solid man."
Harold Weightman had often listened to his father discoursing in
this fashion on the fundamental principles of life, and always
with
a divided mind. He admired immensely his father's talents
and the single-minded energy with which he improved them.
But in the paternal philosophy there was something that
disquieted
|
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 Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane: me know about. Jest think as if I was a-watchin'
yeh. If yeh keep that in yer mind allus, I guess
yeh'll come out about right.
"Yeh must allus remember yer father, too,
child, an' remember he never drunk a drop of
licker in his life, and seldom swore a cross oath.
"I don't know what else to tell yeh, Henry,
excepting that yeh must never do no shirking,
child, on my account. If so be a time comes when
yeh have to be kilt or do a mean thing, why,
Henry, don't think of anything 'cept what's right,
 The Red Badge of Courage |