| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Margret Howth: A Story of To-day by Rebecca Harding Davis: child's, near at hand.
"We can trade in the dark, Lois, both bein' honest," he
responded, graciously, hoisting a basket of tomatoes into the
cart, and taking out a jug of vinegar.
"Is that Lois?" said Mrs. Howth, coming to the gate. "Sit still,
child. Don't get down."
But the child, as she called her, had scrambled off the cart, and
stood beside her, leaning on the wheel, for she was helplessly
crippled.
"I thought you would be down to-night. I put some coffee on the
stove. Bring it out, Joel."
Margret Howth: A Story of To-day |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain: "Oh, bother! It ain't anything. I don't mind it
a bit. I'll take care of you."
Sid appeared.
"Tom," said he, "auntie has been waiting for you
all the afternoon. Mary got your Sunday clothes
ready, and everybody's been fretting about you. Say
-- ain't this grease and clay, on your clothes?"
"Now, Mr. Siddy, you jist 'tend to your own business.
What's all this blow-out about, anyway?"
"It's one of the widow's parties that she's always
having. This time it's for the Welshman and his
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from In a German Pension by Katherine Mansfield: street--there was nobody about at all--dead and alive this place on a
Sunday morning. As he crossed the suspension bridge a strong stench of
fennel and decayed refuse streamed from the gulley, and again Andreas began
concocting a letter. He turned into the main road. The shutters were
still up before the shops. Scraps of newspaper, hay, and fruit skins
strewed the pavement; the gutters were choked with the leavings of Saturday
night. Two dogs sprawled in the middle of the road, scuffling and biting.
Only the public-house at the corner was open; a young barman slopped water
over the doorstep.
Fastidiously, his lips curling, Andreas picked his way through the water.
"Extraordinary how I am noticing things this morning. It's partly the
|
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 Road to Oz by L. Frank Baum: who had come with John Dough. Here were also seated the officers of
the royal palace and of Ozma's army.
The splendid costumes of those at the three tables made a gorgeous and
glittering display that no one present was ever likely to forget;
perhaps there has never been in any part of the world at any time
another assemblage of such wonderful people as that which gathered
this evening to honor the birthday of the Ruler of Oz.
When all members of ethe company were in their places an orchestra of
five hundred pieces, in a balcony overlooking the banquet room, began to
play sweet and delightful music. Then a door draped with royal green
opened, and in came the fair and girlish Princess Ozma, who now
The Road to Oz |
