| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Spirit of the Border by Zane Grey: of Wetzel's enmity he trembled.
"I'll shet yer wind," he cried, catching up his tomahawk and making for Joe.
Silvertip intervened, and prevented the assault. He led Girty back to his seat
and spoke low, evidently trying to soothe the renegade's feelings.
"Silvertip, give me a tomahawk, and let me fight him," implored Joe.
"Paleface brave--like Injun chief. Paleface Shawnee's prisoner--no speak
more," answered Silvertip, with respect in his voice.
"Oh, where's Nellie?"
A grief-stricken whisper caught Jim's ear. He turned to see Kate's wide,
questioning eyes fixed upon him.
"Nell was rescued."
The Spirit of the Border |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from My Aunt Margaret's Mirror by Walter Scott: the altar, and, illumined by the lighted torches, reflected the
mysterious articles which were laid upon it.
The master then placed himself between the two ladies, and,
pointing to the mirror, took each by the hand, but without
speaking a syllable. They gazed intently on the polished and
sable space to which he had directed their attention. Suddenly
the surface assumed a new and singular appearance. It no longer
simply reflected the objects placed before it, but, as if it had
self-contained scenery of its own, objects began to appear within
it, at first in a disorderly, indistinct, and miscellaneous
manner, like form arranging itself out of chaos; at length, in
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Koran: When he said to his father and to his people, 'What are these images
to which ye pay devotion?' Said they, 'We found our fathers serving
them.' Said he, 'Both you and your fathers have been in obvious
error.' They said, 'Dost thou come to us with the truth, or art thou
but of those who play?'
He said, 'Nay, but your Lord is Lord of the heavens and the earth,
which He originated; and I am of those who testify to this; and, by
God! I will plot against your idols after ye have turned and shown
me your backs!'
So he brake them all in pieces, except a large one they had; that
haply they might refer it to that.
The Koran |
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 Malbone: An Oldport Romance by Thomas Wentworth Higginson: does remorse begin?"
"Where you are beginning," said Kate.
"I do not perceive that," he answered. "My conscience seems,
after all, to be only a form of good-nature. I like to be
stirred by emotion, I suppose, and I like to study character.
But I can always stop when it is evident that I shall cause
pain to somebody. Is there any other motive?"
"In other words," said she, "you apply the match, and then turn
your back on the burning house."
Philip colored. "How unjust you are! Of course, we all like
to play with fire, but I always put it out before it can
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