| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from In the South Seas by Robert Louis Stevenson: impression had been made; periodical fear of him still shakes the
islands; rumour depicts him mustering his canoes for a fresh
onfall; rumour can name his destination; and Tembinok' figures in
the patriotic war-songs of the Gilberts like Napoleon in those of
our grandfathers.
We were at sea, bound from Mariki to Nonuti and Tapituea, when the
wind came suddenly fair for Apemama. The course was at once
changed; all hands were turned-to to clean ship, the decks holy-
stoned, all the cabin washed, the trade-room overhauled. In all
our cruising we never saw the EQUATOR so smart as she was made for
Tembinok'. Nor was Captain Reid alone in these coquetries; for,
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell: "Uncle Peter, who is that?" she whispered.
"Ah doan know."
"You do, too. I can tell. Who is she?"
"Her name Belle Watling," said Uncle Peter, his lower lip
beginning to protrude.
Scarlett was quick to catch the fact that he had not preceded the
name with "Miss" or "Mrs."
"Who is she?"
"Miss Scarlett," said Peter darkly, laying the whip on the
startled horse, "Miss Pitty ain' gwine ter lak it you astin'
questions dat ain' none of yo' bizness. Dey's a passel of no-
Gone With the Wind |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Mirror of the Sea by Joseph Conrad: great array of the unknown - who are great, indeed, by the sum
total of the devoted effort put out, and the colossal scale of
success attained by their insatiable and steadfast ambition. We do
not know his name; we only know of him what is material for us to
know - that he was never backward on occasions of desperate
service. We have this on the authority of a distinguished seaman
of Nelson's time. Departing this life as Admiral of the Fleet on
the eve of the Crimean War, Sir Thomas Byam Martin has recorded for
us amongst his all too short autobiographical notes these few
characteristic words uttered by one young man of the many who must
have felt that particular inconvenience of a heroic age.
The Mirror of the Sea |
