| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Copy-Cat & Other Stories by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman: "Nobody says that dear Annie has not a sweet
disposition," said Imogen, taking a careful stitch in
her embroidery. "But a sweet disposition is very
often extremely difficult for other people. It con-
stantly puts them in the wrong. I am well aware of
the fact that dear Annie does a great deal for all
of us, but it is sometimes irritating. Of course
it is quite certain that she must have a feeling
of superiority because of it, and she should not
have it."
Sometimes Eliza made illuminating speeches. "I
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Middlemarch by George Eliot: English polities, which brought long answers, and, Will meanwhile
had perched himself on some steps in the background overlooking all.
Presently Naumann said--"Now if I could lay this by for half
an hour and take it up again--come and look, Ladislaw--I think
it is perfect so far."
Will vented those adjuring interjections which imply that admiration
is too strong for syntax; and Naumann said in a tone of piteous regret--
"Ah--now--if I could but have had more--but you have other engagements--
I could not ask it--or even to come again to-morrow."
"Oh, let us stay!" said Dorothea. "We have nothing to do to-day except
go about, have we?" she added, looking entreatingly at Mr. Casaubon.
Middlemarch |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Mountains by Stewart Edward White: things are sprouting bravely; through bare branches
trickles a shower of bursting buds, larger at the top,
as though the Sower had in passing scattered them
from above. Birds of extraordinary cheerfulness sing
merrily to new and doubtful flowers. The air tastes
cold, but the sun is warm. The great spring
humming and promise is in the air. And a few thousand
feet higher you wallow over the surface of drifts
while a winter wind searches your bones. I used to
think that Santa Claus dwelt at the North Pole.
Now I am convinced that he has a workshop somewhere
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