| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain: rapidity that it wove itself together like a spider's web; the boat
answered and turned square away from the reef, but the reef followed her!
I fled, and still it followed, still it kept--right across my bows!
I never looked to see where I was going, I only fled.
The awful crash was imminent--why didn't that villain come!
If I committed the crime of ringing a bell, I might get thrown overboard.
But better that than kill the boat. So in blind desperation I started
such a rattling 'shivaree' down below as never had astounded an engineer
in this world before, I fancy. Amidst the frenzy of the bells the engines
began to back and fill in a furious way, and my reason forsook its throne--
we were about to crash into the woods on the other side of the river.
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Records of a Family of Engineers by Robert Louis Stevenson: running in these woods.'
[TO MRS. STEVENSON.]
`INVERNESS, JULY 21ST.
`I propose going to church in the afternoon, and as I
have breakfasted late, I shall afterwards take a walk, and
dine about six o'clock. I do not know who is the clergyman
here, but I shall think of you all. I travelled in the mail-
coach [from Banff] almost alone. While it was daylight I kept
the top, and the passing along a country I had never before
seen was a considerable amusement. But, my dear, you are all
much in my thoughts, and many are the objects which recall the
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Gentle Grafter by O. Henry: proud of having a higher opinion of the talent and the powers of
negotiation of ladies.'
"We was back at Mrs. Avery's hotel at the time she appointed. She was
looking pretty and fine enough, as far as that went, to make any man
let her name every officer in the country. But I hadn't much faith in
looks, so I was certainly surprised when she pulls out a document with
the great seal of the United States on it, and 'William Henry Humble'
in a fine, big hand on the back.
"'You might have had it the next day, boys,' says Mrs. Avery, smiling.
'I hadn't the slightest trouble in getting it,' says she. 'I just
asked for it, that's all. Now, I'd like to talk to you a while,' she
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