More Literary Excerpts

" Scrooge & Marley's, I believe," said one of the gentlemen, referring to his list. " Have I the pleasure of addressing Mr. Scrooge, or Mr. Marley ? "

"Mr. Marley has been dead these seven years," Scrooge replied. " He died seven years ago, this very night."

"At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge," said the gentleman, taking up a pen, "it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight, provision for the poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are iu want of common necessaries ; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir."

" Are there no prisons ?" asked Scrooge.

"Plenty of prisons," said the gentleman, laying down the pen again, " but under the impression that they scarcely furnish Christian cheer of mind or body to the multitude, a few of us are endeavoring to raise a fund to buy the poor some meat and drink, and means of warmth. We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices. What shall I put you down for ? "

"Nothing ! " Scrooge replied.

"You wish to be anonymous ?"

"I wish to be left alone," said Scrooge. "Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don't make merry myself at Christmas, and I can't afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned—they cost enough ; and those who are badly off must go there."

" Many can't go there ; and many would rather die."

" If they would rather die," said Scrooge, " they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population." Seeing that it would be useless to pursue their point, the gentlemen withdrew. *

 - A Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens, pg 12-13, December 19, 1843 United Kingdom

BIOGRAPHY: A large, clumsy great dane, Scooby serves as the canine mascot of Mystery, Inc. Known to be afraid of ghosts, zombies, mummies, and even his own shadow, he always manages to come through for the gang, usually with the encouragement of a Scooby Snack, whenever they need him! A gluttonous eater, Scooby will usually devour just about any food you give him! However, buried deep under that giant-sized stomach of his, you'll find Scooby truly has a heart of gold and can teach us all a lesson about loyalty to one's friends!- Scooby Doo

Narcissus was so handsome everyone loved and desired him, but Narcissus was too proud to offer his love in return. His rejection of one would-be lover, Echo, turned her from an unhappy nymph into the barest wisp of what she had been. Echo shriveled up until all that was left of her was her voice, what we now call by her name.

Not all the would-be lovers of Narcissus were so passive. One of them took his complaint about rejection to the goddess of vengeance, Nemesis. The rejected suitor asked the goddess Nemesis to make Narcissus fall in love with himself, but simultaneously to be incapable of accepting his own love. Nemesis obliged....

On a hot day Narcissus bent down to drink from a clear, silvery pool. As he drank, he saw a beautiful image in the pool. He had never before caught a glimpse of himself. Narcissus fell in love with his own reflection. He tried to kiss and embrace it -- encouraged because he saw the other raising his lips to meet Narcissus' own -- but couldn't. Narcissus could do nothing except keep trying. In time he realized he was in love with his own reflection. Since he knew he could never hold himself, he despaired and realized he couldn't live any longer. He beat his breast and died. When his naiad sisters went out to bring him back for burial, the body was gone. In its place was a lovely yellow-centered white flower, the narcissus. 

“Narcissus and Echo in Ovid's Metamorphoses,” 

By N.S. Gill, USA, 2005

But this was drawne of six unequall beasts,  

On which her six sage Counsellours did ryde,  

Taught to obay their bestiall beheasts,  

With like conditions to their kinds applyde:  

Of which the first, that all the rest did guyde,  

Was sluggish Idleness the nourse of sin;  

Upon a slouthfull Asse he chose to ryde,  

Arayd in habit blacke, and amis thin,  

Like to an holy Monck, the service to begin.  

And in his hand his Portesse still he bare,  

That much was worne, but therein little red,  

For of devotion he had little care,  

Still drownd in sleepe, and most of his dayes ded;  

Scarse could he once uphold his heavie hed,  

To looken, whether it were night or day:  

May seeme the wayne was very evill led,  

When such an one had guiding of the way,  

That knew not, whether right he went, or else astray.  

From worldly cares himselfe he did esolyne, 

And freatly shunnéd manly exercise,  

From every worke he chalengéd essoyne,  

For contemplation sake: yet otherwise,  

His life he led in lawlesse riotise:  

By which he grew to grievous malady;  

For in his lustlesse limbs through evill guise  

A shaking fever raigned continually:  

Such one was Idlenesse, first of this company.  

Edmund Spenser  

Athamas ₁ was king first in Boeotia and then in Thessaly. As his second wife Ino plotted against the children of his first wife Nephele ₂, he almost sacrificed his son Phrixus ₁. Hermes entrusted Dionysus ₂ to Athamas ₁ and Ino, and persuaded them to rear him as a girl. But Hera (or Tisiphone ₁) drove them mad, and Athamas ₁ hunted his elder son Learchus as a deer, killing him. Athamas ₁ was then banished, and settled in the country he named Athamantia marrying Themisto ₂ and having other children by her.

Carlos Parada, 1997, Sweden