CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
Cornell University Library 
 
 arvmoo 
 
 From the land o' the leal 
 
 3 1924 031 319 936 
 olin,anx 
 
B Cornell University 
 M Library 
 
 The original of tliis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31 924031 31 9936 
 
i ^CruA/:i. Htl /%^ 
 
 
From the Land OThe Leal 
 
 BEING A BOOK 
 
 Automatically and Inspirationally written between the dates of 
 March 15th, 1913, and March 15th. 1914. 
 
 By 
 LILLIE McGINNIS 
 
 Consisting of the experiences of all classes, after awakening to 
 consciousness after the change of death. 
 
COPYRIGHT 
 191e 
 
Dedicated 
 
 To Those of the Spirit World 
 
 Who have caused these messages to 
 
 be given for the enlightenment 
 
 o{ the people of earth. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 A Suicide Chapter I 
 
 A Miller Chapter II 
 
 An Insane Man Chapter III 
 
 A Mother's Transition Chapter IV 
 
 A Murderer Chapter V 
 
 Longing for Home Chapter VI 
 
 A Little Guide Chapter VII 
 
 A Gypsy Chapter VIII 
 
 An Infidel Chapter IX 
 
 A Preacher and a Drunkard. . .Chapter X 
 
 An Indian Chief Chapter XI 
 
 A Euler Chapter XII 
 
 A Priest Chapter XIII 
 
 A Newsboy Chapter XIV 
 
 A Bachelor Chapter XV 
 
 Temperance and Suffrage .... Chapter XVI 
 
 The Searchlight of Truth Chapter XVII 
 
 A Patriot Chapter XVIII 
 
 An Irishman Chapter XIX 
 
 A Doctor Chapter XX 
 
 A Eobber Chapter XXI 
 
 What Does It Mean to You ? . . .Chapter XXII 
 
 A President Chapter XXIII 
 
 A Scrub Woman Chapter XXIV 
 
 A Mother Chapter XXV 
 
 A Father Chapter XXVI 
 
 A Mormon Chapter XXVII 
 
 A Queen Chapter XXVIII 
 
A Hindu Chapter XXIX 
 
 A Fanner Chapter XXX 
 
 A Df earner Chapter XXXI 
 
 An Idiot Chapter XXXII 
 
 A Fanatic Chapter XXXIII 
 
 A Steam Shovel Man Chapter XXXIV 
 
 Peg ' the Poorhouse Chapter XXXV 
 
 A Mother Chapter XXXVI 
 
 A Society Leader Chapter XXXVII 
 
 A Consumptive Chapter XXXVIII 
 
 A Negro Slave Chapter XXXIX 
 
 A Slave Girl Chapter XL 
 
 A Child of the Streets Chapter XLI 
 
 A Suffragette Chapter XLII 
 
 A Methodist Minister Chapter XLIII 
 
 A Spirit Signal Chapter XLIV 
 
 A Saloonkeeper Chapter XLV 
 
 A ' ' Little Sister of the Poor ' ' . Chapter XLVI 
 
 A Dream Chapter XLVII 
 
 His Last Message Chapter XL VIII 
 
 Message from the Guide Chapter XLIX 
 
PREFACE 
 
 < < A SK and it shall be given you, seek and ye 
 ■t*. shall find, knock and it shall be opened un- 
 to you, for everyone that asketh reeeiveth, and he 
 that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it 
 shall be opened. ' ' 
 
 The writer of this book does not claim to be a 
 medium, only a seeker of truth, and has always 
 been interested in anything that could throw any 
 light whatever on a future existence. In inves- 
 tigating spiritualism about seven years ago, she 
 became thoroughly convinced there was something 
 in it. Lack of opportunity prevented her from 
 consulting many mediums, but she read everything 
 she could get along this line. She was determined 
 to find out for herself if it is true that our friends 
 who have died can communicate. 
 
 About three years ago she received her first 
 communication through her own forces. It was 
 given her on a dial planchette, the same that 
 was employed by Prof. Robert Hare in his famous 
 investigations, and was this: "I have answered 
 your prayer for insight into the spirit world." 
 She was, of course, greatly pleased and continued 
 communicating in this way for some time. One 
 day, while sitting at her machine sewing, without 
 a thought of anything of this in her mind, she 
 picked up a pencil and paper lying near and re- 
 ceived her first communication in writing. It was 
 from a relative she had never seen — ^who had been 
 
in spirit for over thirty years — ^telling her if she 
 would sit in silence, alone, one afternoon a week, 
 she and others would write for her. She gave up 
 the planchette then, as the writing was much more 
 satisfactory and more rapid. 
 
 She wrote in this manner for some time, till she 
 was thoroughly convinced the writings could 
 only come from individuals out of the body, as 
 they claimed, for things were told her that oc- 
 curred in her old home in Ohio that she did not 
 know anything about, till later letters came veri- 
 fying them. 
 
 Imagine her surprise when she was told that 
 a band had been formed whose members would 
 bring spirit individuals to her to write the experi- 
 ences of their awakening into spirit life. That it 
 would reveal conditions of life on the other side. 
 And it was to be published in book form to en- 
 lighten others as it would enlighten her, and would 
 be as interesting to her as reading something she 
 had never read. She wrote so rapidly she could 
 not thoroughly understand it until it was finished, 
 and she read it over again. If she became too 
 deeply interested while writing and wrote more 
 slowly the pencil would stop. 
 
 Later, after all the experiences had been given, 
 the poems were given her, and she has placed some 
 of them in the book. She never wrote a word for 
 publication or thought of doing such a thing until 
 she received this, which she leaves to the reader, 
 whom she hopes will judge it, not by its faults or 
 literary worth, but by the good it may contain. 
 
 LiLLIE McGlNNIS. 
 
INTEODUCTION 
 
 WE, the guides that have been drawn to earth 
 by the law of attraction and our own will- 
 ingness to again try to do some good on the earth 
 plane, have formed a band for the protection of 
 the one through whom the spirits have chosen to 
 write. We have named this band the "Washing- 
 ton Band," and will bring the spirits here to tell 
 their experiences in their own way. We wish to 
 bring spirits from all the varied walks of life — 
 from the highest of your land to those that were 
 sunk in the lowest depths of depravity. We shall 
 not give names, but many will be recognized. The 
 first spirit that we bring came here by her own 
 hand and she will tell her experience in her own 
 way in Chapter I. 
 
CHAPTER I 
 
 I A SPIRIT, will tell you a story that is true, 
 f though stranger than fiction. It is of a home 
 where all joys of home were absent. I, a woman 
 who had all the comforts and luxuries that I 
 wished, yet having all these, came into the un- 
 known by my own hand. I want to tell the world 
 that I repent of this act, and in so doing I com- 
 mence my own progression. I was a writer of 
 fiction, commencing to write at an early age, and 
 by too close application to this work I weakened 
 myself, both physically and mentally. To relieve 
 my severe headaches, I commenced to take opiates 
 that were eventually my undoing. Strange as it 
 may seem, while I was under the influence of drugs 
 I could write better than before I ever took them. 
 I soon found this out and did not hesitate to use 
 them and keep myself under their influence. I did 
 not realize what I was doing until too late to over- 
 come the habit I had formed. I at last became so 
 despondent that I took an overdose, caring not 
 whether I came out of it or not, for I only wanted 
 oblivion. 
 
 What was my surprise to awaken and see my 
 body in its ghastliness. I wondered at this and 
 thought that the drug I had taken was causing me 
 to have horrible dreams instead of the forgetful- 
 ness I craved. But I turned from the sight and 
 walked right through the walls out into the at- 
 mosphere, which was so dense I at first could dis- 
 tinguish nothing. Then a stranger came to me 
 and, speaking kindly, said: "I am a guide to take 
 
12 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 newly-born spirits to the homes they have pre- 
 pared for themselves while on earth." I went 
 with him willingly, for I now understood I had 
 "died" and I expected to find a mansion much 
 more beautiful than my earthly home. What was 
 my surprise to find a very poor cottage with noth- 
 ing attractive about it. "Must I live here?" I 
 asked. "Yes, my child, no place else is open to 
 you now ; and you must live here, alone, until you 
 realize what you have done. I can only come and 
 visit you. You will have to learn life's lessons 
 for yourself." 
 
 I was rebellious for a time and thought none 
 heard my cries of anguish. How I wished myself 
 back in my beautiful earthly home, but I could 
 not go. I had to stay in the poor cottage that had 
 nothing of beauty or even of comfort about it. I 
 wondered if this could be hell, but no fire burned 
 me. My torture of remorse and despair, however, 
 punished me more than fire could have done. Then 
 I tried to quit thinking of myself, and looked 
 around to see if I could find anyone, for I could 
 endure the loneliness no longer. How I prayed, 
 but all was blank; no answer came to me in the 
 silence. At last, however, the answer seemed to 
 come from my innermost being: "Whatsoever a 
 man soweth so also must he reap. ' ' My next ques- 
 tion was, "Must I endure this throughout all eter- 
 nity ? " I really expected an answer in the affirma- 
 tive, but to my great joy the answer that was 
 whispered by the still, small voice was, "You can 
 yet redeem yourself; work out of this condition, 
 and in the coming ages be as happy as those who 
 have never sinned and suffered." 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 13 
 
 Such an answer I had not expected and it was 
 a great comfort to me. I then tried to make my 
 home a little pleasanter and I soon found I could 
 do so. The stranger who brought me to this place 
 again visited me, and seeing the change in my 
 surroundings, knew that I had made my first step 
 in advancement. I then asked for a friend that 
 had been gone from the earth for some time and I 
 wondered if I might see her. I was told that she 
 would soon come to see me. My friend was a 
 woman that had lived a good, pure life and did a 
 great amount of good in the vicinity in which she 
 lived, although having a very humble home and 
 little means at her command. She came to see me 
 and took me to her own home here. Then full con- 
 sciousness dawned on me and I understood life as 
 I never had before. I thought, oh, that the day 
 may dawn on earth when all will be taught! By 
 your real life only will you profit in the eternal 
 now. For your real self is the one that no one 
 but yourself and the angels know. I had every- 
 thing to live for had I only used my wealth and 
 talents to help others. Then I would have been 
 happier there and would have builded better for 
 this life. Instead of doing that, when I came here 
 I had to begin at the beginning and do the things 
 I should have done there. 
 
 I went back to my own poor home with the 
 determination to improve and use every faculty 
 I possessed to work myself up to a condition of 
 peace if not happiness. This was what my guard- 
 ian angel was waiting for. He assured me I was 
 no stranger to him, for he had been watching over 
 me for many years. He now asked me if I would 
 
14 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 care for a sister woman that had just come into 
 the spirit world in such a sad condition that she 
 could not even help herself. I assured him that I 
 would be pleased to do so. She came and I waited 
 on and cared for the poor, depraved spirit until 
 she came to a realization of where she was and 
 what she had to do. I helped her all in my power 
 and told her all I had learned. We decided to 
 live together and help every poor soul we could 
 find. This decision comforted me greatly. Then 
 my guide and teacher came again and told us he 
 would bring the spirits to our home that needed 
 our care. "We now found we could enlarge and 
 beautify our home in a way that was very pleas- 
 ing to us. The work here is not done as it is on 
 earth, but in a much more pleasant way, without 
 any fatigue whatever. Servants here, as they are 
 termed on earth, are unknown. Here the only way 
 people can get help is by their own willingness to 
 be of service, knowing that by helping those 
 weaker than themselves they are improving them- 
 selves. They are not looked upon as are the help- 
 ers of earth, but as individuals to pattern after. 
 All my sorrows and suffering I cannot tell, for 
 it would not be understood, but light dawned on me 
 at last, and while I am not yet happy, I have found 
 the way that leads to joy unutterable. I must 
 first finish the work through another which I 
 should have done when on earth. I will again 
 impress my thoughts on another brain and use his 
 hand to write a book that none who have ever read 
 my books on earth can doubt comes from the same 
 individual. By this means I shall reach that hap- 
 piness that I always longed for, but never attained. 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
 I WANT to tell my experiences. I lived in a 
 little town in British Columbia. I was a miller 
 by trade, and a hard-working man. I was married 
 and had a good home, with three bright children. 
 I came here owing to an accident in the mill. 
 I do not know how it happened, for I was killed 
 instantly. I wondered at the strange sensation I 
 experienced, I felt so light and comfortable. I did 
 not know where I was, for I could not yet see my 
 mangled body. I remembered what I had been 
 doing, but knew I was not now in the mill. I 
 thought: "Is it possible I have gone suddenly in- 
 sane?" Then I thought, "No, it cannot be that, 
 for I experienced such a sense of peace and con- 
 tentment." I seemed to be in a tropical country, 
 such a feeling of warmth and comfort possessed 
 me. I could distinguish nothing as yet, for all this 
 occurred iu a few moments. Then, all at once, a 
 vision of great beauty burst upon my view. I 
 thought: "I am surely dreaming, or what can 
 have happened to me?" Then a face I knew in 
 childhood looked upon me, and the person said: 
 "Dear Frank, can you not realize what is the mat- 
 ter? You know I have been here for years." 
 Then, as in a flash, I understood, and I asked: "Is 
 it possible that I am dead?" "You have left 
 your body, brother, but are not dead," he said. 
 "I am alive and you recognize your brother that 
 
16 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 you played with in childhood and always thought 
 of as dead." 
 
 I had never thought much about a future life, 
 being content and happy, but I now understood I 
 had entered it without a moment's warning. 
 "There was an accident, brother, as I will now 
 show you. Be brave, for you have much to en- 
 dure." I was now takeii to the mill and there 
 looked on my mangled body. My first thought was 
 of my loved ones. ' ' Oh, God ! comfort them ! ' ' was 
 my cry. I was not allowed to go home, for I was 
 not yet able to stand this ordeal and it was merci- 
 fully spared me. I was told of the great help I 
 could still be to my family, and this comforted me. 
 I carried a life insurance and my children were 
 almost at an age that they could take care of them- 
 selves, for we had given them a good education. 
 So I did not have to grieve over leaving my family 
 in want, as many do. 
 
 I was, after a time, taken to my earth home, 
 and there learned much that I had never thought 
 could be possible. I could now see my family as 
 I could not while on earth with them. My wife 
 that I had loved and for whom was my greatest 
 grief was happy to know I was out of the way. My 
 children really loved me, but the sorrows of youth 
 are not lasting and for this I was pleased. But, 
 oh! the sorrow of now knowing how bitterly I had 
 been deceived in the wife for whom I had slaved 
 and whom I had denied nothing that was in my 
 power to grant. I caimot help but think I shall 
 some day see her suffer in like manner for the man 
 she loves and whom she had loved for years, and 
 had met secretly, and who will in time deceive her 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 17 
 
 as she did me. I cannot as yet forgive her, but in 
 time I hope I may. I am learning much of this 
 life, the beautiful home of the soul, where we can 
 see clearly and cannot be deceived. 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
 I AM a man who has suffered the tortures of the 
 damned. My home is in Ohio. I will not give 
 the name of the city, for my family are all living 
 there and I do not want them to recognize me. 
 Some day they will have to know all, for no life's 
 pages are closed. I am not going to tell of my 
 earth life, for many would recognize me then. 
 I will only tell of my experiences here. 
 
 In the first place, I came here in such a condi- 
 tion of depravity that it is beyond description. I 
 made it for myself and blame no one. I had 
 wealth and an honorable name at one time, but lost 
 both. Once started, I went the downward road 
 fast, yet I was at an age when I should have been 
 preparing myself for death. Instead, I was 
 placed in an insane asylum. My family could not 
 take care of me at hoine. I came into this life in 
 the same condition. I have suffered as I hope 
 none others may. Every act of my misspent life 
 has been gone over and must be made right. This 
 is no easy matter, and I do not know how it will 
 be accomplished; but I am assured ways will be 
 found so that I can redeem the past and gain hap- 
 piness. I have been here for more than five years 
 and just in the past year have I realized my con- 
 dition. I only know I have suffered tortures that 
 the body knows naught of. Now I am anxious to 
 work in any way the teachers and helpers here 
 wish me. They tell me writing this will be of 
 benefit and help me to progress. 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 19 
 
 I was not considered a bad man by my asso- 
 ciates and I was a devout Catholic ; bnt the wick- 
 edness was within. I wronged many, but covered 
 it up by charity, for I was always willing to give 
 to any good cause. I did some good deeds, but 
 these were overbalanced. It was my own con- 
 science that condemned me, but I would not heed. 
 Finally I became unconscious of good, and only 
 thought and talked of evil. Then it was that I 
 was placed in an insane asylum. 
 
 I have now learned that I drew spirits around 
 me of like character, and we held high carnival. 
 After I came here they were still my companions, 
 for I did not realize I had made any change. I 
 came to a realization of my condition by coming 
 to a medium. She was one I had tried to wrong, 
 but did not succeed. She only thought of me in 
 pity ; she did not want me near her, but told me to 
 go and sin no more. Since then I have tried to 
 follow her adAdce, but it is harder to change for the 
 better here than on earth, for the opportunities of 
 the evil-minded are greater, as are also the oppor- 
 tunities for doing good when once one gets started 
 right. I have now made the start and all the 
 demons of hell (for there is a hell, and I have 
 been in it, or perhaps it would be more correct to 
 say it had been in me) cannot change me again. I 
 have much to learn and much to make right, but 
 eternity is mine and I shall succeed. 
 
 I have told this in the hope of doing some good, 
 for "as a man thinketh so is he, whatever he may 
 profess. ' ' I am on the right road at last and this 
 gives me a contentment that I have never known. 
 I have ceased to pray and want to work for and 
 
20 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 warn and help all I can reach. I want to learn of 
 this life everlasting about which I know so little. 
 All I ever learned did me no good. Prayers of 
 pope or priest are of no avail. No Saviour can 
 wash away your sins. You must wash away the 
 stains yourself. This I now know I can do, so I 
 will go and commence the work that is laid out 
 for me to do. 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
 A motheb's tbansition 
 
 IN the poorest part of a city 
 A white-faced woman lay. 
 The hand of death had touched her, 
 She knew she could not stay. 
 
 Not stay to rear her children, 
 Which always was her prayer, 
 
 Till they were self-supporting 
 And would not need her care. 
 
 The boy was but a youngster. 
 
 The girl was only eight. 
 The things they'd do for mother 
 
 Would certainly be great. 
 
 Soft through the room they tiptoed. 
 Their eyes were moist with tears ; 
 
 For want had made them sadly 
 Much older than their years. 
 
 The truth had come to Willie, 
 His face turned old and gray; 
 
 A man's strong heart beat bravely 
 In a little boy that day. 
 
 He stood by his mother's bedside 
 And saw her thin, pale face, 
 
 And said, "Now, don't worry, mother, 
 I'm going to take your place." 
 
22 FROM THE LAND O'THB LEAL 
 
 "Trust me to care for Nellie, 
 
 So do not worry more, 
 And won't you e'er watch o'er us 
 
 From your home on the other shore?' 
 
 These words gave her more comfort 
 Than aught she'd ever had — 
 
 The dear, strong words of Willie, 
 Her own brave, little lad. 
 
 "I'll surely watch my darlings, 
 
 I'll help you all I can. 
 Do not forget me, Willie, 
 
 When you grow to be a man. 
 
 "Don't ever enter a barroom; 
 
 That cursed your father's life. 
 And Willie, oh be faithful 
 
 To the one you make your wife. ' ' 
 
 The end came then so peaceful, 
 Like sweet, refreshing sleep. 
 
 Her promise to her children 
 She felt that she could keep. 
 
 The spirit of that mother 
 Watched o'er them all their life. 
 
 The man was a nation's hero 
 And Nellie a noble wife. 
 
CHAPTEE V 
 
 I AM a man that committed the worst crime 
 there is, for I murdered my own mother. I 
 was an only son and had every advantage that 
 wealth could procure. I went through college and 
 it was there I got into bad company. I learned to 
 drink and gamble; and it was but a few years 
 until I had lost all respect for myself and family. 
 My mother was a widow. My father, who was a 
 Confederate soldier, was killed in the war. 
 
 I loved my mother and only sister devotedly, but 
 such is the curse of drink that while I was under 
 its influence I would do and say things that, at 
 other times, I would be ashamed to even think of. 
 I came home one night drunk, and wanted my 
 mother to deed all her property over to me. This 
 she would not do. I followed her up to her room, 
 insisting that she do this. She started down the 
 stairs again to keep out of my way, when I gave 
 her a push that sent her headlong. Her skull was 
 fractured and she died almost instantly. This 
 terrible sight sobered me at once, and my first 
 thought was of self-preservation. Running into a 
 neighbor's I told them my mother had accidentally 
 fallen down stairs and I feared had killed herself. 
 My actions caused suspicion, and I was tried, 
 convicted and hanged. 
 
 We will not dwell on this, for such things can 
 be read every day. I wish to tell how I came to 
 consciousness here. I realized I was to pay a 
 
24 PROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 just penalty for my crime. I believed I would 
 continue to exist, but had no idea of what I would 
 experience. I did not expect the freedom that I 
 found. My first feeling was one of thirst for 
 liquor. A man I had known came to me and told 
 me he would take me to a place where I could get 
 a drink. I did not know I was dead, for the mem- 
 ory of all that had occurred had left me, and I 
 did not even think of how the man that I knew 
 to be dead could be with me. Mother, home, and 
 sister were forgotten. I only wanted a drink. 
 We went to a barroom that I frequented and where 
 I had spent many a dollar and we began a debauch 
 that you oould not think possible. I thought I 
 was drinking in the same way I always had, but 
 I was under the influence of liquor as soon as I 
 entered the barroom ; the fumes, or odor, did this. 
 
 I soon found I could influence men to drink, and 
 I receive the same effects that they experienced. 
 This led me to wonder what had happened to me ; 
 but I was in a dazed condition. I thought it was 
 the effects of drink and I would be all right when 
 I sobered up. This I did not want to do. I stayed 
 in this condition, as near as I can remember, about 
 eight years. Then all at once, like a flash of light- 
 ning, it all came back to me — ^my mother's murder, 
 my trial and conviction, and all that occurred on 
 the day I was hanged. I wonder if anyone can 
 imagine my feelings? 
 
 I now realized I was out of my body, but how 
 can I find words to tell of my remorse! I was 
 taken to the home of a man I had influenced to 
 drink, and there looked on the sorrow of his wife 
 and little children. I there made a vow I would 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 25 
 
 never again be the means of causing them to suf- 
 fer through my accursed appetite. I have kfept 
 that vow and have tried every means in my power 
 to influence the other spirits to let him alone. He 
 does not know why at times he cannot let liquor 
 alone, but it is spirit obsession and nothing else. 
 Now I want to tell you here that neither is en- 
 tirely to blame. The man who drinks does not 
 know what influences him and the spirits are in a 
 drunken, dazed condition and do not know what 
 they are doing, only that they are satisfying their 
 own appetites. ITflfil they realize what they are 
 doing they will keep on. But missionary spirits 
 are giving their time to this work and are accom- 
 plishing much, but it takes time and patience. The 
 only way such as these may rid themselves of 
 obsessing spirits is by staying away from saloons 
 and all places where liquor is sold. 
 
 I want to tell you of another strange thing. 
 My mother was at once taken to my father's beau- 
 tiful home. She understood she had entered eter- 
 nal life, but did not know the cause. She was a 
 good, pure woman, and now that she had joined 
 my father her happiness was complete. She did 
 not know she could return to earth, but thought, as 
 many do who belong to the churches, that she was 
 in heaven. Though finding it more beautiful and 
 delightful than she expected, and different in 
 many ways, she was content. My father knew, 
 but was not yet ready to tell her anything of this 
 life imtil she was able to bear it. 
 
 At the time of my awakening to full conscious- 
 ness, my first thought was of my mother. Would 
 it be possible for me to see her, I wondered. My 
 
26 FROM THE LAND O'THB LEAL 
 
 father came to me then and said he would bring my 
 mother to see me. How I longed for, yet dreaded, 
 the meeting! But good angels took care of her 
 and explained it all, and she met me with the same 
 loving greeting she always gave me. 
 
 I wondered if the time ever would come when I 
 could be happy. I am at least in a hopeful frame 
 of mind and those wiser than I assure me that in 
 the future by my own efforts I shall be as happy 
 as they. I have just begun to realize the advan- 
 tages of this beautiful country. As soon as you 
 make up your mind to do good the opportunities 
 are given you. You are not hampered as in earth 
 life, for * ' where there 's a will there 's a way. ' ' No 
 limit is placed upon you. Now I have told you of 
 my life up to the present. What the future holds 
 for me I do not know, but rest assured it will 
 never be downward, but up into the heights as far 
 as I am able to climb. Knowing it all rests with 
 myself, I shall be careful, and always do the best 
 I can. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 LONGING FOE HOME 
 
 I AM tired of earth, with its sorrow and care; 
 Its burdens seem greater than I can bear. 
 I want to go home. 
 I have done but little, and yet I know 
 We all must reap whate'er we sow, 
 And be content. 
 
 I shall gladly welcome the messenger pale 
 Who comes to lead me beyond the veil. 
 
 Where loving friends await — 
 Where father and mother with outstretched hand 
 Will say, "Welcome, my child, we understand — 
 
 You have reached a haven at last. ' ' 
 
 My tired body I shall leave behind 
 
 When I reach a sphere that is more divine. 
 
 And I shall then be free — 
 Shall be as free as the wind that blows. 
 With none of the cares such as earth life knows. 
 
 Oh ! I shall be happy then ! 
 
 I shall watch my loved ones from the other side, 
 And oft be near them to help and guide 
 
 O'er roughest places here. 
 And when they, too, shall cross the bar 
 I shall stand at the lovely gates ajar 
 
 And give them welcome home. 
 
CHAPTER VII 
 
 I AM a sunbeam of light and gladness, 
 Shining on all I may reach with my light. 
 I am a spirit that knows no sadness, 
 Only the joys of heaven so bright. 
 
 I am a ray in the darkest pathway, 
 
 And shine with a light that never grows dim. 
 I am doing the work I dearly delight in. 
 
 Cheering the hearts in sorrow and sin. 
 
 I am only a little girl, but want to tell you the 
 good a little girl may do in this life. I came here 
 when I was too young to remember much of my 
 earthly home life. I only know I felt pain and all 
 at once it was gone and I opened my eyes in such a 
 beautiful place. Lovely women and little children 
 about my own age of three years were around me. 
 I went to a woman I loved at sight. She took me 
 in her arms and told me she was my mother. ' ' My 
 mamma is not as beautiful as you," I told her, 
 "but I love her, too." She told me the one I had 
 always loved as mamma was my own auntie who 
 had taken care of me always, for she herself came 
 to this beautiful place and had to leave me behind 
 when I was born. She explained things to me and 
 I could understand. She told me how, during all 
 my short earth life, she had watched over me, how 
 she loved auntie for taking such good care of me, 
 and how she would grieve that I was taken from 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 29 
 
 her; but that we would go soon and comfort her, 
 even though she could not see us. This was also 
 explained to me and I wanted to go at onoe. 
 Mother said I must wait until she thought best. 
 She said she would show me many beautiful places. 
 I wish I could describe the beauty and grandeur 
 that I have seen. Mother said we must now go 
 home and see if there is anyone else there I knew. 
 There was a man waiting for us at the door of a 
 lovely home. Mother said, as he took me in his 
 arms, "This is your father, dear, that came here 
 about a year after I did and left you an orphan ; 
 but your aunt and uncle took our places and you 
 never felt our loss. But we are glad to have you 
 with us, for now our home is complete. We wish 
 to teach you ourselves, and you can learn very 
 rapidly. ' ' Oh, how happy I was ! It seemed like 
 the fairy stories my earth mamma had read to me, 
 for everything I wanted I seemed to get. I wanted 
 to go to the earth again, after a time, to see my 
 old home. Mother went with me, and how natural 
 everything looked. My earth mamma, or auntie 
 I will now call her, looked so sad. I called out 
 to her as loudly as I could, but she never looked at 
 me. I asked mother what was the matter. Then 
 she told me that all could not see us ; in fact, very 
 few could; but that we would work over auntie 
 and see if it would not be possible for her some 
 day to see us and know we were there. This we 
 commenced to do, mother showing me how to use 
 our magnetic forces and saying the way would 
 be opened some day. We often went to her when 
 she was alone, for she had no children of her own. 
 She would start sometimes when I would touch 
 
30 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 her, and she would look all around. Then I would 
 laugh, thinking she could see me, but I soon found 
 she could not. 
 
 This earth home of mine was in Buffalo, N. Y. 
 One day a friend of auntie^ asked her to go to a 
 spiritual meeting and told her about the messages 
 that were given there. She went one Sunday and 
 mother and I went with her. Oh, how lovely it 
 was, for now we knew we could get word to her. 
 The lady that gave the messages saw us and de- 
 scribed us to auntie the first ones. How proud 
 and happy I was I I there met the little message 
 guide of the lady and we became fast friends. I 
 asked my mother if I could not do this work, too. 
 I just knew at once that I could soon learn and the 
 little guide said she would help me. Mother gave 
 her permission and my work commenced. Oh, how 
 I love it ! I am now about thirteen years old, but I 
 have learned more than I would had I lived the 
 allotted time of threescore and ten years on earth. 
 So do not think when you lay the little bodies of 
 your babes away that they will not grow up and 
 learn as on earth. Even though born in the 
 homes of the rich they are better off here, for here 
 we never feel bodily pain and for us there is no 
 suffering for sin. We are brought up in such an 
 atmosphere of love that every want is satisfied. 
 We learn what we are fitted for and then com- 
 mence to work. 
 
 I want to tell you now about how my auntie 
 learned to see me. She was deeply interested in 
 the messages that were given her and decided to 
 investigate farther. She went to a trumpet medium 
 and there we convinced her we were still living 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 31 
 
 and that if slie would help us by desiring medium- 
 ship and give us a chance to work with her we 
 could soon be seen by her clairvoyantly. We told 
 her what we had been doing and that there were 
 others who would come if the way was opened. 
 We assured her that she could also lecture and 
 give many beautiful truths to the world. Auntie 
 has now been on the platform several years and 
 I am her little message-bearer. I shall continue 
 in this work until auntie comes here. Then I shall 
 take up work here and keep on progressing. My 
 wish is that everybody could be as happy as Lit- 
 tle Sunbeam. 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
 
 I AM one that had no home on earth, for I am a 
 gypsy and my home was in the forest. I was 
 happy, as our people usually are, for it does not 
 take much to satisfy a gypsy if she is good and 
 true. We are happy if the sky is blue above us, 
 and we have something to eat and covering for 
 the night. I was with my parents when the event 
 happened that took me out of my body. Being 
 only a child in years, I got separated from them 
 one day and became lost in the woods. I was not 
 frightened, for I was at home among the trees, 
 but the more I tried to find our camp the more 
 completely was I bewildered. I became worn 
 out and thought I would lie down and rest. I soon 
 fell asleep. I cannot tell you of that night of 
 horror, for I was carried off and at last murdered. 
 I awakened in a beautiful country, and I thought 
 I must have had a horrible dream. I looked 
 around me, expecting to see our camp. I must be 
 still lost, I thought, when a lady I had never seen 
 approached me. She was of our own race and I 
 went to meet her gladly, thinking she would take 
 me to my parents and the rest of our camp. She 
 told me we would join them presently, but she had 
 much to tell me first. I went with her to a cottage 
 in a garden of beautiful flowers, where the sun 
 looked to be always shining and the sky always 
 blue. She told me I was not in my body, but I 
 was a spirit that could roam at will, and need fear 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 33 
 
 none, for nothing oould harm me now — that I 
 would never have an ache or pain and could live 
 always in the sunshine. We gypsies love the sun- 
 shine and hate bad, rainy weather. I asked her 
 if I could go to our tent. She told me I could and 
 that she would go with me. 
 
 My parents were wild with grief, for they could 
 not find me, nor did they ever while on earth learn 
 my fate. They thought I was stolen or killed by 
 some other tribe. This was many years ago, and 
 my family are all here now and understand. I 
 have roamed over the earth and learned much. 
 I now want to travel in the spheres of spirit. I 
 have learned that to be happy we must work and 
 help those we can, especially of our own race. I 
 have stood in the tents of fortune tellers of our 
 race and impressed on their minds the things they 
 would tell, as I could see it, for the people that 
 came to have their fortunes told. They would 
 wonder how it could be possible for anyone to tell 
 of their past so correctly and of -i;heir future that 
 invariably came true. This, so far, has been the 
 work that I love and have found very interesting. 
 
 I was bom a gypsy and such I shall always be 
 throughout all time. We of our race can be as 
 happy as any, but we could not be happy to be 
 changed, for we are as nature made us. So it is 
 with all races. We all can reach the same happy 
 state without changing our natures. Nor do we 
 wish to do so. Our opportunities for progression 
 are the same as yours and all are equal in the 
 sight of the God that created us. 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
 I WANT to relate the experiences of one who 
 had a happy life on earth. I had wealth and 
 a beautiful home. I feared neither Grod nor man. 
 I did not believe in a personal God and was called 
 an infidel. I gloried in the title, for I could never 
 accept the doctrines I was taught in childhood. 
 In fact, they were repulsive to me from the time 
 I began to understand life in any of its phases. I 
 was successful, although I had many enemies, for 
 I lectured against the false teachings of the ortho- 
 doxy of my time. I see now I made many mis- 
 takes, but I was honest, and I gave to the world 
 what I believed to be the truth. I have found I 
 fared better on coming here than many that criti- 
 cized me the most severely. Had I only known 
 what I have since found out, that I was right in 
 most things I advocated, and yet that I was im- 
 mortal, I should now be satisfied with my life- 
 work on earth. I always said, in speaking of im- 
 mortality, that I did not know. I now know I 
 should have made it my business to find out by 
 investigating, for it is a scientific fact that life 
 is immortal, and that fact cannot be blotted out. 
 My awakening in this life was a pleasant sensa- 
 tion, although I could not at first understand. I 
 was not expecting this experience. I thought 
 death ended all. So I did not at first realize what 
 had happened until friends I had known gathered 
 around me, delighting in my confusion and telling 
 me I had entered eternity. My first question was 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THB LEAL 35 
 
 to ask of God. They told me I had much to learn 
 of conditions here and I must not beconie impa- 
 tient, but take things calmly. I was very happy 
 to know I still lived. I went with friends whom 
 I loved and we spent many happy days in talking 
 of our earth experiences. How pleased I was to 
 find there was justice in this life, that a man got 
 what he deserved and that he himself would see 
 and pronounce it just. My life had not been with- 
 out mistakes. These I was ready and anxious to 
 rectify. I found what grand opportunities were 
 before me to continue in my work, although I 
 would have to change it in some respects. Let no 
 one think that he has all the truth, for this is given 
 to none ; but let him be happy if he has a part of it. 
 Many have none at all when they enter here and 
 must begin at the beginning to learn of this life. 
 All come here with the same beliefs and opinions 
 they had on earth, and it is according to what 
 these are whether they will be benefited by them or 
 not. There are comparatively few that have any 
 knowledge of this life, but the day is fast ap- 
 proaching when things will be different — when 
 anyone who wishes can learn while still on earth 
 of the beauties of eternal life. The means of 
 gaining this knowledge at present is not popular 
 enough to please the majority. If each soul could 
 investigate for himself without his neighbors or 
 friends being any the wiser there is scarcely one 
 but would do so. But so great is the accursed 
 spirit of pride and fear of public opinion that but 
 a few stand up bravely for what they have found 
 to be the truth, caring' not for an accusing public, 
 knowing they are right and fearing none. It is 
 
36 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 not those brave enough to defy public opinion who 
 need the help of ministering spirits when they 
 come here. They are well able to oare for them- 
 selves. It is the cowards who need help. Those 
 who never dare give an opinion, fearing they will 
 be criticized or lose an influential friend thereby. 
 Never being afraid to change one's opinion and 
 always reaching up after higher things is progress. 
 This life is exactly what we make it. Existence on 
 earth is the beginning of our conscious life. As 
 we lived there, so shall we enter here. Whether 
 we had faith in the church and belief in the creed 
 or not, if we did the best we could, the future 
 will be an open way of progress for us. 
 
 Some on entering the spirit world are content 
 for years to keep on going to church, singing 
 praises and listening to one who still believes 
 that in this manner only can he reach perfection. 
 But I have found that those who subscribed to no 
 creed are really the happiest; they are ready to 
 accept things as they find them. They can more 
 easily get a clearer understanding of the truth 
 than can those who are bound by such narrow 
 ideas. 
 
 Only those who come here with open minds and 
 correct lives are really conscious of what their 
 minds are capable of grasping. They are in a 
 state of happiness not realized by those whose 
 minds are held by the false beliefs of earth. One 
 acting the hypocrite by doing as others do and be- 
 lieving what others profess, instead of having con- 
 victions of one's own and firmly holding to them, 
 is sure, sooner or later, of being made unhappy 
 by regrets and disappointments. 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 37 
 
 The voice of conscience is the still small voice 
 that many call God and is what should guide us all. 
 But each must obey his own conscience and not the 
 conscience of another. The attempt of one to 
 make his own conscience the guide for others is 
 a perversion of nature and ends in disaster. Oth- 
 ers imagine their own voice of conscience is the 
 voice of the Infinite and that therefore all who 
 accept this voice and believe what it teaches have 
 the truth. 
 
 Is it any wonder religion is split up into wrang- 
 ling sects — that blind faith has taken the place 
 of knowledge and borrowed beliefs the place of 
 individual conviction? 
 
 The spirit world is at all times striving to up- 
 lift and educate the people of earth and make bet- 
 ter conditions for life. This for us is pleasant 
 work, but we are hindered in many ways by your- 
 selves. We have gained much in the last few 
 years. More ways are being opened for us. We 
 are being made conscious as we never were be- 
 fore of our power to help those on earth. More 
 are thinking along this line than at any time in 
 the history of earth. More on this side are work- 
 ing for this, and many who have been here years 
 without number are just finding out that they 
 can return and help change conditions. This may 
 seem strange, but it is nevertheless true. We are 
 living here in spirit, in a world of discovery, and, 
 in my opinion, shall always continue to do so. The 
 half has never been told. 
 
CHAPTEE X 
 
 A PBEACHEE AND A DRUNKARD 
 
 THEOUGH the slums of an English city 
 A preacher was wending his way, 
 With a Bible under his arm, 
 
 Intent on what to say. 
 To bring to the feet of Jesus, 
 
 Their sins to have washed away. 
 To fit for the heavenly kingdom 
 Those who had gone astray. 
 
 On the steps of a Public House 
 
 He saw a man forlorn. 
 He was bloated and in tatters, 
 
 A disgrace to the human form. 
 His hand he laid upon him ; 
 
 The man arose with a start 
 And gave the preacher a look 
 
 Which somehow touched his heart. 
 
 His usual fluent language 
 
 Was checked on that very spot. 
 He was able only to utter, 
 
 "Have you no one to care? 
 Hard drink has brought you to ruin, 
 
 It takes what is manly away. 
 Come over with me to our mission. 
 
 We '11 teach you how to pray. ' ' 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 39 
 
 The man drew up most proudly. 
 
 "If you wish my story I'll tell, 
 The first in all these years, sir. 
 
 To hear the reason I fell. 
 Why, whisky is my friend, sir. 
 
 It does not make me wild; 
 It causes me to forget 
 
 I had home, and wife, and child. 
 
 "I was a lawyer — ^would you believe — 
 
 I won applause in many a case. 
 My name was almost famous 
 
 And was known all over the place. 
 A preacher then came to our home, 
 
 A devil he was in disguise. 
 The Bible was under his arm 
 
 And his mouth was filled with lies. 
 
 ' ' He set my wife against me, 
 
 And before I was aware. 
 With lies he had entrapped her ; 
 
 For me she ceased to care. 
 I could have shaken his life out, 
 
 The miserable, cowardly cur; 
 But the trembling woman before me. 
 
 My thoughts were all for her. 
 
 "And for our little daughter, 
 
 Who must not know the shame. 
 And so I left our home 
 
 And shouldered all the blame." 
 The preacher stood in silence — 
 
 "My God! Can this be he. 
 The man I wronged so long ago. 
 
 Telling his tale to me 1 
 
40 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 "My sins have found me out. 
 
 How deeply did I pray 
 To be forgiven, and thought I was, 
 
 And continued to teach the way." 
 A crowd had gathered around 
 
 To hear what the preacher could say 
 To the drunkard who had sat 
 
 In the barroom day by day. 
 
 A scream rang out on the air. 
 
 A child had stumbled and fell 
 In front of a motor truck. 
 
 All stood as under a spell. 
 At once, with a curse at the chauffeur, 
 
 The drunkard gave a leap, 
 Caught the child and threw her out 
 
 To the other side of the street. 
 
 But he gave his life for the baby, 
 
 As bruised and bleeding he lay, 
 The mother, with child in arms. 
 
 Knelt down by his side to say 
 How grateful she felt to him, 
 
 For whom she would care for life. 
 Not knowing it was her father, 
 
 And her mother was once his wife. 
 
 A white-faced, gray-haired woman 
 
 Crept into the morgue that night. 
 And by a birthmark on the arm 
 
 She knew the story was right. 
 The report came out in the papers 
 
 That told the story well. 
 Of how a bright young lawyer 
 
 Was wronged by another and fell. 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 41 
 
 When at tiie bar of justice, 
 
 Where all must some day stand, 
 To reap what they have sown 
 
 In that brighter, better land, 
 And answer for each wrong act. 
 
 With the cause that led to it, too. 
 Of the preacher and the drunkard. 
 
 Which fares the better, think you I 
 
CHAPTER XI 
 
 I AM an Indian chief and lived many years ago, 
 when the white man was our enemy. We were 
 contented and happy. My tribe lived in peace 
 with the few settlers that came into the territory 
 where we hunted and fished. Wild game was plen- 
 tiful and we never went hungry. 
 
 But the day came at last when the order was 
 given for us to move forward. This we deter- 
 mined not to do. We organized our little band 
 as best we could, and fought many a bloody battle 
 for our homes, for they were this to us, even 
 though they were only Indian wigwams. Oh, how 
 we hated the white race! We were ignorant and 
 could not understand. They did not give us much 
 chance. They wanted the lands we considered our 
 own. Do not blame the poor Indian for the 
 cruelty that he afterwards practiced, for he was 
 driven to it. It would all have been needless had 
 we been treated fairly. But when once started we 
 became crazed with a desire for vengeance and 
 considered all the whites our enemies. 
 
 But we were at last overpowered, and I signed 
 the treaty of peace with Mad Anthony at Green- 
 ville, Ohio. But there was no peace in my heart 
 or in the hearts of my few brave followers who 
 were spared. Yet we lived on, moving towards the 
 setting sun, and still being crowded out of our 
 settlements. At the present time only a few of a 
 glorious race of people are living on earth, but 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 43 
 
 here, in spirit, we are countless hosts, for we in- 
 habited the earth before the white race came into 
 existence. We are nature's own children. This 
 knowledge has always been in our possession. 
 We never feared a devil, but always looked to the 
 Great Spirit to provide for us a happy hunting 
 ground. This we have now found, and no power 
 can take it from us, for we came into our own. 
 We are proud of our race. We delight in coming 
 again to earth and helping those we are able to 
 reach, for the Indian's heart is kind, if he is only 
 treated right. He never forgets a friend. In a 
 few short years our race will become extinct, for 
 the Indian cannot live in the atmosphere of your 
 so-called civilization. He soon succumbs to the 
 diseases of the white race, of which the Indian, in 
 his native state, never knows. We have no hatred 
 now towards the whites, knowing the Great Spirit 
 is their source also. We are all the children of 
 one parent. We all have an equal chance for hap- 
 piness here, where much is given and nothing 
 taken away. 
 
CHAPTER XII 
 
 I AM to give to the world an experience that 
 has never been given before, not since the rich 
 man and Lazarus, at least. I was in hell for a 
 number of years after leaving earth and really 
 thought I was burning all the time. I could actu- 
 ally feel the flames scorching my flesh, as I 
 thought. 
 
 Friends of earth, I want to tell you my story. I 
 was considered a great man of my time. I was 
 a ruler and had great power over my subjects. I 
 stopped at nothing to gain my selfish ends. If any- 
 one thwarted me he was soon put out of my way. 
 I thought the world was made for my pleasure, 
 and I accepted everything as my right. I was 
 grateful to none. I was never happy, for such a 
 disposition cannot attain happiness. I thought I 
 could rule the heavens as I could the earth. I 
 was never given any teaching that was of benefit 
 to me. My teachers only flattered me, made me 
 conceited and contented with myself. 
 
 I have no memory of leaving the earth plane. 
 I awoke in agony; fire was all about me and I 
 could not get away from it. I believed firmly in 
 a hell of fire while on earth, but thought this was 
 only a place for my subjects who displeased me. 
 The priests assured me I was, through their in- 
 tercessions, a fit subject for heaven. I had so lit- 
 tle sense of my own that I believed them and went 
 on my way committing deeds of shame. I won- 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 45 
 
 der I was ever released from the torture I found 
 myself in when I awoke. It makes me shudder 
 even now, after years of release, and of work 
 here which I have learned to love, for this was 
 my salvation. I expected to suffer forever. Oh, 
 how every wicked deed was brought to my con- 
 sciousness until I cried for pardon to a God I 
 knew I had outraged ! I do not know how long I 
 was in this condition, but when my own conscience 
 told me I was only getting my just deserts then I 
 experienced a change that I was not expecting. 
 
 During all this time I was alone. None heard or 
 saw my anguish. I have often wondered if any 
 others have suffered as I, but I am assured that 
 many have, and will, as long as people are taught 
 as they still are on earth. That there is a hell of 
 fire for those who do not believe and a heaven of 
 rest for those that do believe that Jesus can, by 
 forgiving their sins, even at the last moment of a 
 misspent life, bring them into peace and rest, or 
 by not forgiving, send them to the torment of the 
 flames. Oh, in what agony some of us have to 
 unlearn all we ever learned of a future life! At 
 this time, when I began to think for myself, I had 
 to acknowledge to myself that I was only getting 
 justice, for I had made many suffer. 
 
 A man I had had beheaded for a trifling offence 
 came to me. I thought he had come to add to my 
 torture and get his revenge. What was my sur- 
 prise to hear him say, "Brother, you have suf- 
 fered enough; come with me and I will show you 
 that there is peace yet for you, and happiness 
 eventually when you deserve it. Many, many 
 years have passed since then and I have pro- 
 
46 PROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 I 
 
 gressed by helping and teaching others. I have 
 attained a happiness that I once thought impos- 
 sible, for I am now in the sixth sphere, and there 
 is progression still ahead. "We, in my opinion, 
 never reach perfection; there will always be new 
 truths presented, each of which will be better 
 than the last. While the door of reformation is 
 never closed, neither is the door of learning, and 
 we can go onward and onward throughout all time. 
 
gHAPTER XIII 
 
 I WAS a priest on earth, but find myself not 
 beyond the gates of progress. I have not been 
 here long, but long enough to learn what I never 
 expected to have to learn, that as far as our re- 
 ligion is concerned, we would be better off if we 
 had none. How can I tell you of my surprise? 
 I was earnest and believed in the infallibility of 
 the pope. I believed that all priests were ab- 
 solved from sins of earth, and if sincere could com- 
 mit no wrong. How little I knew, with all my 
 education, of the truth of eternal life ! As priests 
 we were not allowed to read and educate ourselves 
 along any lines that would be of benefit or lead 
 us to think for ourselves. We are still taught as 
 priests were in the Dark Ages, when there was 
 some excuse for ignorance; now there is none. 
 With the advantages that are now within the reach 
 of all, I wonder how I could have believed all that 
 was told me. But we are taught in such an at- 
 mosphere of superstition, that we are hypnotized 
 by those in authority over us and we in turn pass 
 it on to our followers. I cannot say no good is 
 accomplished. There is much ; but this is so over- 
 balanced by the false teachings that there is little 
 good comes of it. 
 
 The pity of it is that we must wait till we enter 
 eternity before we study out life's problems for 
 ourselves. I, who thought the Church of Rome 
 and what it represents placed us, by following 
 
48 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 its teachings, in a heaven of happiness, now know 
 that it has been only a stumbling block to me. 
 
 I must now work as I never did before to gain 
 a knowledge of this world of spirit. Kind friends 
 who preceded me have taught me much of the 
 truth and I am anxious to learn. I do not have to 
 suffer for sins, for I was honest and sincere and 
 did the best I could. Many I know will suffer 
 torment on coming here, for it is by right living 
 that we can in any manner be benefited. Those 
 whom I regard as teachers of this life tell me I 
 can soon learn all I so earnestly desire, for the 
 advantages here are without limit and all have 
 an equal chance. The beauties and grandeur of 
 the world of spirit cannot be told. A person must 
 enter it as spirit to understand. 
 
CHAPTER XIV 
 
 I AM a little newsboy and came to this place of 
 spirits a short time ago. I was selling papers 
 on the streets of New York. I was cold and hun- 
 gry, for the wind was bitterly cold this day and 
 the streets were a glare of ice. I had only a few 
 more papers to sell, when I would go to my attic 
 home, where a woman would probably beat me 
 first and give me a few crusts to eat afterwards. 
 I was a waif and stopped wherever I could find 
 shelter for a week or so, then go on to some other 
 place, where perhaps I would be worse treated 
 than before ; yet, in spite of the hardships, I was 
 not always unhappy, for we had many a merry 
 game on the streets of New York under the feet 
 of the multitude. 
 
 Now, I had a little friend, not quite my own 
 age, who was a flower girl and as friendless as I. 
 The woman with whom she lived — for she was an 
 orphan — took all the money she earned and would 
 often beat her if she thought it was not as much as 
 it should be. I was wishing I was a man and 
 could have a home of my own where we could both 
 live and not be abused or go cold and hungry. She 
 had started to cross the street where a lady had 
 beckoned to her for some flowers. I happened 
 along at this time and just as she was almost 
 across an automobile came aroimd the corner and, 
 although we children of the street are quick of eye 
 and nimble of feet, yet we were not quick enough. 
 
50 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 I gave her a push, but too late ; it caught us both. 
 I never knew I was hit, but she lived a few mo- 
 ments, I am told. I opened my eyes in heaven, for 
 of all places of beauty I had ever even imagined 
 none could compare with this. I thought I was 
 dreaming and that Jennie was with me. 
 
 Many beautiful people were standing around in 
 this lovely place I was in. I thought, "HuUy gee ! 
 don't let me ever wake up!" Then a lady spoke 
 to me and said, "Jamie, dear, I am your own 
 mother. Both you and Jennie were killed in an 
 accident. Now you will live here with me in this 
 beautiful place and never know cold or hunger 
 again. Jennie's parents are both here and will 
 take her into their beautiful home, where they 
 will be glad to welcome you, for you were almost 
 her only friend and they are grateful. My dear 
 little boy, how often has mother longed to bring 
 you here, but this I could not do until the time 
 came. If we could do this the earth would soon 
 become depopulated, for those who could not 
 bring people through love would do so through 
 revenge. So we must bide our time. I am glad 
 you did not suffer, for you have suffered all your 
 short life. Your father is still on earth. He aban- 
 doned you after I came here and never gave you 
 a thought, yet he was well able to have cared for 
 you properly. ' ' 
 
 I, Margaret, Jamie's mother, have written the 
 above sketch for him, for he still uses the lan- 
 guage of the street. I will add that but for his 
 heroism in trying to save his little playmate he 
 would still be selling his papers on the streets of 
 New York. Yet I, his mother, am glad this oc- 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 51 
 
 curred, for he is here with, me now, where he will 
 be forever safe from the temptations of the earth 
 life. For the benefit of all who may read this ac- 
 count which I am writing let me add that when a 
 waif of the streets gets his earth life crushed out 
 it is not wholly a loss. All such waifs escape the 
 snares and pitfalls of sin and never have to suf- 
 fer for the mistakes that the environments would 
 undoubtedly lead many of them into. 
 
CHAPTEE XV 
 
 I WAS a bachelor and was never happy and con- 
 tent with a single life. I am in a better coun- 
 try now and can look back over my past and see 
 its mistakes. All my life I desired to possess the 
 love of a woman. Then when I had won the love 
 of one I so earnestly sought I would grow dissat- 
 isfied and would not marry her. Many good and 
 beautiful young girls did I disappoint in this way. 
 Yet I did not do this for the purpose of causing 
 disappointment and pain. I would think each time 
 that I had found the one woman I could love and 
 protect and then she would grow so displeasing 
 to me that I could not endure the thought of mak- 
 ing her my wife. Had I been a woman I might 
 have been called a coquette. I went through life 
 in this manner with the longing for a companion 
 ungratified. I know my lot was more sad and 
 undesirable than any of the ones I had disap- 
 pointed, for they in time outgrew their attach- 
 ment, married and had happy homes. 
 
 I grew to be an old man, unloved and uncared 
 for. I had means, so poverty did not touch me. 
 Only those who have the heart hunger can realize 
 what a life of this kind is like. I believe it is bet- 
 ter to have wife and family on earth, even though 
 things do not always run smoothly and poverty 
 may knock at the door. There is comfort in hav- 
 ing someone that belongs to us to care for and 
 who cares for us. Without such a one a soul feels 
 friendless and alone. No matter how much wealth 
 
PROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 53 
 
 one has accumulated it will not ease tlie heart hun- 
 ger and longing for a mate. 
 
 This desire is natural and does not end with 
 the earth life, but is a part of us here in spirit life. 
 Until we find our own we are unsatisfied and in a 
 state of unrest. It is an unnatural life. I had 
 been here a number of years before I understood 
 the laws of nature as I now do. There are only 
 two souls of opposite sex who are truly mated, 
 however many times they may have married on 
 earth. They, in earth life, in each marriage may 
 have been comparatively happy and yet not be 
 truly mated, as all must be on this side when they 
 have reached this state of progression. 
 
 I was here many years before I found that my 
 own other half or soul mate was living on the 
 earth plane. She was the wife of another and was 
 not happy in her marriage. She had the same 
 feeling of longing for love ungratified. I watched 
 over her and cared for her all I could. Yet I 
 could not make her understand. Her life at last 
 became so unhappy that she committed suicide. 
 I could not help her on her coming here until she 
 had repented of much of her past. I at last could 
 get near her and could teach and help her in many 
 ways. I still have certain conditions to make 
 right, while she also has not finished her work that 
 she should have done before coming here and 
 which she would have done had she come here in 
 a natural way. But we both now know that, when 
 we have earned it, such a great joy will come to us 
 that it was well worth both waiting and working 
 for. For the only happiness without alloy is the 
 perfect mating of nature 's own children in spirit. 
 
CHAPTER XVI 
 
 I AM one who was happy on earth, for I was 
 able to work for the causes I loved — temper- 
 ance and woman suffrage. 1 never ceased in my 
 efforts to free the country of the accursed liquor 
 traffic and to emancipate those of my own sex. I 
 am glad to look back and see the good seed that I 
 have sown beginning to bear fruit, though it will 
 be some time before I can see both movements a 
 final success. I am working here now as earnestly 
 as I ever did on earth. As surely as the sun 
 shines, both the causes that I labored for will 
 some day be triumphant, not at once, but slowly 
 and surely, as they are even now gaining vic- 
 tories. Then the earth will be a fit place in which 
 to bring children into existence. As conditions 
 now are, people may well hesitate to marry, know- 
 ing the responsibility that will rest upon them and 
 the trials that may be in store. What grief for a 
 mother to see her son come reeling home and 
 what worry and heartache are hers all the time 
 he may be away, fearing and dreading that while 
 under the influence of liquor he may commit some 
 crime or be brought home to her a corpse, being 
 killed in some den of iniquity. When women get 
 the franchise they will put a stop to the accursed 
 stuff being manufactured. This is the only way 
 to end its evil influence. There are many women, 
 I know, who drink, and many would uphold the 
 habit by casting their vote for its continuance, 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 55 
 
 but not the majority. Too many good mothers, 
 wives and children have seen and known its curse. 
 The abolition of the drink habit may be longer in 
 coming than otherwise, because it is so bitterly 
 fought, not by those who drink, but because of the 
 greed for the gold it brings. The poor drunkard 
 that has to be picked up out of the gutter in his 
 own heart would be glad if it were out of his 
 reach. The blame rests with those who take ad- 
 vantage of his weakness and filch from him his 
 hard-earned nickels and dimes and who sit in their 
 palaces and ride over the country in their auto 
 mobiles. 
 
 They, on coming into spirit life, receive what 
 they deserve. They envy even the drunkard who 
 was in the gutter, for their condition here is often 
 much worse than his. I have seen and know what 
 their condition is. I should pity them more did I 
 not remember what suffering they caused and that 
 the semi-darkness and desolation in which they 
 find themselves are but the result of what they did 
 on earth. My pity goes rather to the drunkards 
 who are in desolation and despair because the 
 tempters wanted their ndoney, caring not how 
 they robbed them of their manhood and much of 
 their ability to live honest, upright lives. I care 
 not who or what one is, he cannot be the man 
 Q-od meant him to be if a slave to the drink 
 habit. There are plenty of pure, good drinks with- 
 out that which inebriates. But this would not 
 serve the purpose of the money grabbers. It could 
 not rob a man of his reason and thereby make him 
 their prey, giving him an appetite that can never 
 be satisfied, taking from him much that is most 
 
56 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 precious to manhood and possibly every dollar he 
 can make as long as he is able to earn. Then he 
 may stoop to crime to get the means to quench 
 his thirst. Such are conditions that exist to-day; 
 but the day will dawn on your fair land when all 
 this will be no more. True, there will always exist 
 the two factors, good and evil, or the developed 
 and undeveloped man, but it will not be so hard 
 to live a good life as now. The temptations will 
 not be so great and things will be more in accord 
 with nature and nature 's wonderful laws. 
 
CHAPTER XVII 
 
 THE SEARCHLIGHT OP TBUTH 
 
 TURN on the searchliglit, revealing the heart 
 Of people you think you know. 
 How surprised you will be when you see 
 What the searchlight is able to show. 
 There oft is a man who seems rude and rough, 
 Who speaks not kindly, but always gruff. 
 Yet 'tis not known that often he sends 
 All he can spare to two aged friends 
 To keep them from hunger and want. 
 
 Another there is whose pictured face 
 Is seen in every public place. 
 He gives his thousands to aid the poor, 
 His praise is sung from door to door. 
 The searchlight turned on such as he 
 It shows a man heartless and cold, 
 Who gives his time as well as gold 
 To herald his glory and his fame 
 To win for himself a widespread name. 
 
 A woman comes before a throng 
 With painted face and jest and song. 
 But oft her heart is good and true, 
 With a husband ill, no work can he do. 
 Her hours of service are far too few. 
 With two babies at home to be fed. 
 
58 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 Now comes a woman, pious and meek, 
 Scattering tracts every day in the week. 
 The searchlight shows such a narrow mind. 
 Nothing is good except her kind — 
 Who prays God's mercy on you and me 
 Because with her we fail to agree, 
 We shall at last be lost. 
 
 Others there are who carry a smile, 
 
 Leading all to think they have no guile. 
 
 But what does the searchlight show? 
 
 Shows hearts within as black as night. 
 
 They take the hand, but stab with might, 
 
 When freedom from danger makes safe the act. 
 
 My pictures of human life are done 
 
 With those who agree with everyone. 
 
 And what does the searchlight show of these? 
 
 They are cowards at heart and mentally weak. 
 
 Being led by all with whom they speak, 
 
 With no purpose or plan or will of their own, 
 
 Tools to be used by stronger men. 
 
CHAPTER XVIIT 
 
 OH! Emerald Isle, our native land, 
 We love thee even more 
 Than when we walked in flesh and blood 
 Upon thy rugged shore. 
 
 For spirit eyes see clearly, 
 
 Our ears have heard thy cries. 
 We're working for thy freedom 
 
 From homes beyond the skies. 
 
 I am an Irishman, still with the same desires 
 that I had while on earth, though more than a 
 hundred years have passed since I came to grief 
 through striving for what my native land was not 
 at that time ready for— freedom. Still, I was ac- 
 cused by many of only wanting to benefit myself. 
 This was not true. I was of a very patriotic na- 
 ture and my whole heart was set on doing some- 
 thing for the country I loved. I grew to man- 
 hood seeing our people not being bought and sold 
 as were the negroes later in America, yet, though 
 white, living under, I think, worse bondage. 
 
 The slaves were in most cases well cared for, 
 but our people were not. All they could make 
 went to the landlord, leaving them nothing for 
 themselves. When I grew up existing conditions 
 so aroused me that I tried to get certain conces- 
 sions so our people might have something for 
 themselves. No matter how they worked, they 
 
60 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 were allowed hardly enough to live on comfort- 
 ably. I gave much of my time to the study of 
 these conditions. I could see no way out of our 
 diflSculties but by rebellion; yet this only added 
 to them, for we were too greatly outnumbered. 
 I could not, however, be silent while my country- 
 men were in such slavery, working for the Eng- 
 lish aristocracy that knew not the meaning of 
 honest toil. Well, I stirred up my countrymen, 
 but it did no good. I was finally hanged for my 
 loyalty and patriotism and my earth life and work 
 are very well known. But I have never ceased in 
 my efforts to bring about what I worked for on 
 earth and I can now almost see it being accom- 
 plished. Ireland will never more be kept in igno- 
 rance and bondage. England must give our peo- 
 ple a chance. Home rule is the first step. But I 
 and others like me will never be satisfied with 
 this. "We shall keep on in our silent work until 
 Ireland becomes as free as any country on which 
 the sun shines. Then I shall be satisfied with 
 my work and willing to take up new lines. But 
 nothing else has ever appealed to me as yet. And 
 I have been here many years. We work in many 
 ways, influencing all the people we can with the 
 one end in view to free the little isle we still love, 
 and see it take its rightful place among the nations 
 of the earth. 
 
CHAPTER XIX 
 
 WOULD you like to hear the experiences of 
 Patrick 'Shea? I lived in Ireland, sure, 
 for I would not have wanted to live anywhere else. 
 My parents were very anxious for me to become 
 a priest, as the highest ambition in life for a true 
 Irish couple is to have a son of their own a priest. 
 But this did not suit me at all, for I had my eyes 
 on a little colleen even then, and my greatest 
 ambition was to grow up and make her my wife. 
 When I was about to do this and was going 
 to the city to get some finery for our wedding, my 
 horse became frightened and out I was thrown, 
 my head striking a stone by the roadside. "Sure, 
 Pat, you are in for it now, and what will poor 
 Katie say that you are hurt so badly?" Some 
 people who knew me saw the accident, carried 
 me into the house near by and sent word to my 
 parents and Katie. They soon came and, oh! the 
 crying and wailing they did, sure, and me listening 
 to it all. Well, they sure thought Patrick was all 
 right. But won't they be surprised when I tell 
 them I ' ' ain 't hurt at all, but am only stunned ? " I 
 wondered why I could see my body, but thought 
 it was because my head had got such an awful 
 knock. Well, they took me home, and didn't I 
 have a beautiful wake, sure? It was very inter- 
 esting to me, and I thought, "Won't they be sorry 
 they shed so many tears when I get up?" I 
 wanted to wait until they were all in the room; 
 
62 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 then I thought it would be great fun to give them 
 an awful fright. I was enjoying it all, for I ex- 
 pected we would soon be having a great thanks- 
 giving over it. 
 
 But in the middle of the night, when the wake 
 was at its height, I tried to tell them that they 
 could postpone all their hilarity, for Pat was not 
 dead and did not need their prayers, for he could 
 pray for himself. But I could not make them 
 hear a word I said. I wondered if they were all 
 drunk or crazy. But after they had put my body 
 in the ground I began to think it must be Pat who 
 was wrong after all, for, at the grave, when my 
 good old mother knelt to say her last prayer for 
 Pat, something seemed to snap and I could leave 
 them all. I seemed to float upward and could see 
 forms, but could not at first recognize them. But 
 after a very short time, friends I had known came 
 and made Pat very welcome into the world of 
 spirit, as they called it. They told me I was actu- 
 ally killed by the accident, but that I had only 
 just begun to live really. 
 
 "Well, I have found they were right, that we have 
 two bodies, a material and a spiritual, and that 
 until the silver cord the Bible tells of is severed, 
 both bodies are one. So-called dead people could 
 then be resuscitated if proper means were taken, 
 as would be the case if this were understood. This 
 is why so-called miracles occur when the dead are 
 brought to life. The new pulmotor is of benefit, 
 for if one were buried for a week or frozen in a 
 cake of ice, as scientists have experimented with, 
 and the magnetic cord were not severed, he could 
 again enter his body and live on the earth, but if 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 63 
 
 nothing were done spirit friends and loved ones 
 would come to his relief and help him to leave his 
 body. I do not mean that the spirit is buried 
 under ground, but the spirit cannot leave the body 
 very long, nor will the body decompose until the 
 cord is severed. When once severed no power on 
 earth or in spirit can connect it again. But the 
 body goes back to the elements from which it 
 came and the individual spirit lives eternally on. 
 Now you see Pat has learned something since 
 coming here. I also have learned how soon one 
 can be forgotten, for my little Katie soon married 
 my rival and never gave even a thought to Patrick 
 O'Shea. 
 
CHAPTER XX 
 
 1WAS on earth a doctor, in a little town in 
 western Ohio, where I lived and practiced medi- 
 cine. I was considered good in my practice, al- 
 though I was far from being a good man. I 
 thought I was pretty well educated in my profes- 
 sion, but found on coming here I was very far 
 from being well learned. Though I have been 
 here a good many years, I am still a student and 
 realize I have only started to learn of the great 
 principles of life and the human organism. I 
 have been studying along these lines since com- 
 ing here, after I worked myself out of the condi- 
 tion I found myself in on entering here. I did not 
 believe in immortality, heaven or hell, and on 
 awakening to full consciousness and seeing my- 
 self as others in spirit could see me, was one of 
 the greatest surprises of my life. I was perfectly 
 willing to commence improvement and right all 
 wrongs that I had committed. This was rather 
 difficult, but I was not one that would let obstacles 
 overcome me when on earth, and I persevered. 
 I had kind friends and many loved ones to help 
 me in giving me good advice. This I was very 
 glad to follow, for it took lots of conceit out of me 
 to see how badly I was mistaken in my views. 
 
 My first desire was to find the origin of life. 
 This has been my study for years, and I have 
 made but little advancement. I have found a few 
 truths, which I will give you. They are perhaps 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 65 
 
 known to many, for you on earth have many 
 things given you from spirit people who are 
 farther in the line of progression than I. We all 
 work along lines in which we were the most in- 
 terested and which we are able to understand. It 
 would be of no use to you to give you anything in 
 medical terms that you know nothing about. 
 
 I will give you what I have learned for what 
 it is worth. You know we here have our own 
 opinions the same as you of earth, and differ on 
 many points. My research into the origin of 
 life goes no farther than the soul germs that are 
 floating about in the atmosphere. Whence they 
 came I do not know, but we understand that they 
 come from the one great source — almighty power 
 of God. I cannot find anyone who can explain to 
 my satisfaction who or what God may be. So my 
 research started with the life germs that are al- 
 ways floating in the atmosphere. Each consists 
 of two particles — a male and female — as there are 
 always the two sex forces in everything in nature. 
 They are so minute that the human eye cannot 
 distinguish them. They become separated before 
 being breathed or absorbed into the male. They 
 are transferred to the female through whom they 
 gain their earth expression. The other compan- 
 ion germ finds expression in like manner through 
 another. 
 
 I have also found that if the soul germ is thrown 
 out of the matrix before it receives sufificient mag- 
 netism from the mother it returns again into the 
 atmosphere as a germ and finds expression through 
 another by reincarnating, not losing but gaining in 
 strength by the experience of which it knows noth- 
 
66 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 ing. True, there are many spirit children here 
 that never reached the proper period of gesta- 
 tion, but these had received sufficient magnetism 
 to enable them to continue their existence in spirit 
 and are taken often into the homes of their 
 parents by spirits who give their time and atten- 
 tion to this work. 
 
 Now, here is the explanation of the much-talked- 
 of and often ridiculed soul-mate. But it is one 
 of the truths that changes not. Your companion 
 germ that floated in the atmosphere perhaps hun- 
 dreds of years will eventually be your soul-mate 
 and you could have no other. The soul germs may 
 have had to reincarnate a great many times be- 
 fore being born naturally in flesh and blood, but 
 after this birth takes place they can never reia- 
 camate again, but must gain all progress from that 
 time on. For until the age of three or four years 
 you are scarcely conscious of your existence, but 
 when consciousness dawns for you it will remain 
 forever. If you return again to earth after the 
 change of death it will be to right some wrong you 
 have committed, or because you wish to teach 
 others of the things you have learned and have 
 loved ones that you wish to help by your influ- 
 ence. You may be years in the spirit world be- 
 fore you find your own soul companion, but when 
 the proper time comes you will be drawn together 
 by the unseen, silent power that none can tell 
 whence it comes, but which all recognize as being 
 Divine Power that knoweth all things. 
 
CHAPTER XXI 
 
 1WAS a robber when on earth. I was a very 
 bad man. I had all the bad habits which ex- 
 isted. I drank, gambled and robbed so I could 
 get the means to live the life of depravity, which 
 I thought I enjoyed. I had no knowledge of a 
 better life. My parents were my teachers in a 
 life of crime. I had to enter the spirit world to 
 learn that all do not live as I did on earth. After 
 a time I was able to return to earth as a student, 
 and there learn the things I should have learned 
 while in the body, this opportunity having been 
 denied me by my environment. I soon learned 
 how wrong I had lived. 
 
 I also found that I could decide which way I 
 should continue to live. I could get in with my 
 old companions and help them commit deeds of 
 crime or I could help them to live better lives. 
 Well, I did not decide all at once. The old ties 
 were the strongest and I went with my compan- 
 ions into the dens of iniquity, but on seeing them 
 with the clear vision of spirit in all their vileness, 
 I resolved I would never again share in their 
 revels, but try and influence them to lead better 
 lives. 
 
 The making of a good resolve is a wonderful 
 help, either on earth or here in spirit. I was very 
 earnest this time and determined to learn all I 
 could of life, both on earth and in the world of 
 spirit. Good angels came to my assistance. I 
 
68 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 was mystified. I questioned them to find if there 
 was any chance for such as I to reach their own 
 happy state. They gave me their advice and help 
 and told me I would have to begin my work on the 
 earth plane to reach a state of happiness I'now 
 craved. My first work was to be with my parents, 
 to influence them to lead better lives. My mother, 
 while never giving me any help in teaching me 
 right from wrong, idolized her boy. I never un- 
 derstood her, either, for had she chosen a good 
 man instead of my father she would have been 
 a very different woman. None on earth are with 
 out some good traits and my mother's love for me 
 was a great help to us both. 
 
 I could now get nearer her than ever before, 
 and influence her as I could no one else. I stayed 
 near my mother, influencing her in every way pos- 
 sible, until her life, as she was then living, grew 
 so distasteful to her that she determined to leave 
 the city in which she lived and go where she was 
 not known. My father I could do nothing with. 
 I continued influencing my mother until she did 
 as I wished, not knowing I was the cause of her 
 going to a relative in a distant state and there 
 working and living in peace. 
 
 I have found there is nothing on earth or in 
 heaven quite like a mother's wonderful love. It 
 does away with the mistaken idea of reincarna- 
 tion in which many believe. It makes no differ- 
 ence how low in the scale or degenerate a child, 
 the mother 's love is hoping and trusting to find it 
 again, purified in spirit, and she will not be dis- 
 appointed. On the other hand, if a spirit returns 
 to earth and is reborn through another, how could 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 69 
 
 the mother find her own? It would then lose its 
 identity and be another and the mother would be 
 bereft of her child. This cannot be. I know a 
 spirit such as I can return to earth and do as much 
 good and get as much good, and even more, than 
 if he were to re-enter a body of flesh. A spirit 
 must, for his own good, return to earth if he has 
 not reached a certain stage of progression. I 
 have been able to wipe my own sins away and 
 can go to great heights or planes of progression 
 in spirit. But I am still spending most of my 
 time on earth, glad to help any soul I can reach. 
 I am now one of a baud of missionaries laboring 
 for the good of any with whom we can come in 
 touch on earth, and teaching the undeveloped 
 spirits here who do not realize their condition. We 
 shall continue in this line until others come to 
 take our places. Then we shall take up other 
 work here. We have plenty of time for pleasure 
 and amusement, for it is not good for even spirits 
 to have all work and no play. Our work here is so 
 very interesting and instructive that the work 
 itself is a pleasure. In her higher home my mother 
 is always waiting to welcome her boy from his 
 labors of love. 
 
CHAPTER XXII 
 
 WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU? 
 
 What does it mean to you 
 When death stalks in at the door, 
 
 Takes from you your loved ones 
 Whose forms you see no more? 
 
 Do they spend their time in bowing 
 Around a great white throne 
 
 God's anger to appease, 
 And for church neglect atone? 
 
 Instead, the spirits tell us 
 
 They live and grow and learn. 
 
 And study life's great problems 
 And not a soul will burn. 
 
 They tell us that our progress 
 May never, never cease. 
 
 And that each soul may earn 
 A life of joy and peace. 
 
CHAPTER XXIII 
 
 1WAS the fourteentli president of the United 
 States. I was a churchman on earth, belong- 
 ing to the Episcopal faith. While not very re- 
 ligious, X believed in the doctrines of my church. 
 I still think the churches do a great amount of 
 good in the world, although mistaken in many 
 things. The welfare of man is what they have 
 at heart. I am speaking of the majority and of 
 no sect or creed. All believe somewhat alike, al- 
 though differing on many points. The aim of all 
 Christians is alike, to gain heaven or happiness 
 after the change of death. Our aim here is the 
 same. "We also differ on many points, but we 
 agree that the heaven one finds on coming here 
 depends on his condition. What one has builded 
 by his life on earth that is what he will receive 
 on reaching here. 
 
 Yet we never cease desiring something better. 
 Perhaps we are satisfied for a time. Yet, how- 
 ever great our happiness on coming here, after a 
 time we aspire to greater heights. In striving to 
 reach perfect happiness we progress. Our earn- 
 est desires and longings, be they what they may, 
 are what we are building our place of dwelling on 
 this the spirit side. If we are longing for a home 
 of our own and were never able to gratify that 
 desire on earth, it will be gratified here. But the 
 quality of the home will depend upon the quality 
 of the one who occupies it. 
 
72 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 This is the only world I know where people are 
 valued for just what they are — no more and no 
 less. If we see someone's spirit form that is glori- 
 ous in its brightness and beauty we know it has 
 earned this estate and has not gained it by fraud 
 or deceit, as wealth and popularity are gained on 
 earth very often. 
 
 Politics still interest me. It is very interesting 
 for us to see the great strides in progress earth's 
 children are making. It is a great comfort to be 
 able to know this. While we cannot reach all, we 
 can reach some and can very easily find them if we 
 wish to do so. 
 
 I have never written in this manner before and 
 am greatly pleased with this opportunity. I have 
 a home here beautiful beyond description, but it 
 was not all complete when I came here. I had 
 many things to make right on earth before I could 
 think of my own comfort and happiness, but I com 
 menced in earnest and overcame my faults one by 
 one. Each time I gained more strength and cour- 
 age for the next effort. By and by to my con- 
 science came the still small voice, " 'Tis enough, 
 come up higher." Then the beauties of spirit 
 life appeared to me and I began to learn many 
 things. Oh, the joy of knowing all our dormant 
 faculties can be brought out and developed and all 
 our heart longings be gratified ! 
 
 You would be very much surprised to see, as 
 we here do, among the poor laboring classes 
 that toil from early morning until late at night 
 for simply their daily bread, the wonderful tal- 
 ents lying dormant from the lack of means to de- 
 velop them. Here is where these people can un- 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 73 
 
 fold and make use of their God-given faculties. 
 Their joy is beyond your powers of conception. 
 We are always striving to learn what is beyond. 
 Just as you of earth are learning of the spirit 
 world, so we are learning of worlds beyond this. 
 Our opportunities are greater than yours, for the 
 spirit has many ways of gaining knowledge that 
 you have not. Yet the time is not far distant when 
 your advantages in this direction will be greatly 
 increased. When the religion and science of earth 
 accept the fact of spirit return, then greater 
 achievements will take place. As in the olden 
 time, those who came to scoff remained to pray, so 
 the scoffers of this truth to-day will in future 
 time become its heralds. 
 
 Bright as the morning star, 
 
 Fairer than day. 
 Are the angels of light 
 
 That are leading the way. 
 
CHAPTER XXIV 
 
 A SCBTJB WOMAN 
 
 JUST an old woman, but angels of light 
 'er her are watching from morning till niglit ; 
 And from the time the night shadows fall 
 While she is scrubbing they notice it all. 
 
 A home she is building to be envied by kings, 
 Tho ' worn and weary, her hopeful heart sings. 
 She often gives pennies to those poorer than she, 
 Which will bear her interest in the world to be. 
 
 Many, oh, many, are weary and sad! 
 
 Have long since forgotten they ever were glad. 
 
 With work piled before them they are scarce able 
 
 to do. 
 And moments of rest are always too few. 
 
 Just an old woman, down on her knees. 
 Not praying for pardon or some God to appease. 
 Only earning her bread in the way that she can, 
 Charity scorning, she asks help of no man. 
 
 Compensation nor justice belongs to this life ; 
 It is nothing but toil and worry and strife. 
 But if we do our best anywhere we may be, 
 There's a comfort in this that no one can see. 
 
 Tho' old and forsaken, by earth friends forgot. 
 Let us each do our best whatever our lot. 
 If sometimes on knees from labor made sore. 
 The angels may guard us while scrubbing a floor. 
 
CHAPTEE XXV 
 
 I WANT to tell you of the experience of a 
 mother who had a big family of boys and girls, 
 a comfortable home and a good, kind husband. At 
 an early age I was converted, as I then under- 
 stood it, and gave my life into my Savior's keep- 
 ing. I was a Methodist and earnest in the cause 
 and work of my church. My greatest grief was 
 that I could not persuade my husband to join the 
 church with me. I prayed for this all my earth 
 life, yet never saw my prayers answered. My 
 children, too, were a source of grief, for neither 
 would they accept Jesus and join the church. For 
 my girls I did not grieve so much, for they were 
 good and I trusted to my Savior to bring them 
 to Him when they grew up to understand. Yet 
 many, many times have I knelt in prayer and, with 
 the tears running down my face, interceded for 
 my wayward boys. 
 
 I wondered how it would be possible for me to 
 be happy in heaven with even one of my children 
 in hell ! I have asked this question of more than 
 one of our ministers and this is the answer I al- 
 ways received: "Well, you know, sister, that at 
 even the last moment, if you believe and call on 
 Jesus, your sins can all be washed away. Surely, 
 by your life of devotion to your Savior and the 
 church, your children will all repent before it is 
 too late. But if this should not be, you will see 
 differently when you are in heaven among the 
 
76 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 blest. If such should be the case that one or 
 more of your children are, by not coming to Jesus 
 for forgiveness from sin, cast into hell, you will 
 know that they are receiving a just punishment 
 for their sins. It cannot make you unhappy, for 
 you will see as Jesus Himself sees then." 
 
 Poor comfort it was to think I should be so 
 happy that I could forget my own or look on their 
 anguish unmoved. This answer never satisfied my 
 heart. Yet I had confidence enough in Jesus ' love 
 to think that He would bring all my children and 
 loved ones to Him in a spirit of repentance and 
 could then forgive them of their sins before they 
 entered eternal life. 
 
 Well, I have been here a number of years, and 
 how thankful I was to find I was mistaken about 
 many things when I became able to imderstand 
 rightly. I found Jesus to be a worthy example 
 and the same teacher as of old, still going about 
 doing good. How often I have listened to His 
 beautiful teachings. I cannot wonder that the 
 people on earth worshiped Him and caused such 
 confusion of the idea of salvation to be imparted 
 to the untold millions. But it does not take long 
 to be righted and my joy was great to learn that 
 I would at some future day see all my children 
 and know that they would never burn eternally, as 
 I sincerely believed while on earth. 
 
 My husband is here with me now. While he 
 lived to be an old man in years and never joined 
 the church, no one ever asked of him a favor in 
 vain. He did more good than many that be- 
 longed to the church and expected by so doing 
 that a loving Savior would forgive all their sins. 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 77 
 
 He never forgot my prayers and pleadings. A 
 few days before he came here he had a preacher 
 come to his home and receive him into fellowship. 
 Then he was very happy, for he thought this was 
 required of him. But it was not necessary, as he 
 now knows. His life had builded better than he 
 knew. It did not take a minister of the gospel, 
 who was not as good a man by far as himself, to 
 pronounce a few words begrudgingly over him 
 and tell others that it was a deathbed repentance. 
 The minister will find when he comes here that it 
 takes more to gain happiness than to stand in the 
 pulpit in a long-tailed coat and tell others how 
 they should live, forgetting many times to prac- 
 tice what he himself preaches. I am now glori- 
 ously happy, knowing as I do that not one soul that 
 is dear to me can be eternally lost. Could any- 
 thing give one more peace and joyf 
 
CHAPTER XXVI 
 
 I AM one who had sorrow and trouble all my 
 earth life. I never did any great wrong, but 
 lived the best I could. I was a farmer and worked 
 hard. Yet it seemed to me the more I tried the 
 worse things became. I never could understand 
 why this should be. 
 
 Many I knew who worked but little and were 
 not honest in their dealings and yet prospered. I 
 sometimes rebelled in my own heart at this, and 
 wondered where God's love and justice were if 
 they were not manifest on earth. I could never 
 see that they were. For the innocent suffered with 
 the guilty and I often thought even more. 
 
 Sickness and death often visited my home. 
 Finally I was left alone with my little ones to get 
 along as best I could. How often I knew not 
 which way to turn, but there was always a way 
 found. At last, when my children were grown 
 and I was beginning to have less care and worry, 
 I was stricken with paralysis and could never 
 work again. Then my children repaid me for all 
 my care of them. For three years I was almost 
 helpless and they never faltered in their love and 
 care. But, oh ! how I longed for health so I could 
 work, or for death, which I believed meant eternal 
 life. I did not fear this change, but the thought 
 of making it or dying always frightened me. The 
 future after death took place. I felt I was pre- 
 pared for it. All my life my motto had been, ' ' Do 
 
PROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 79 
 
 all the good you can and as little harm as pos- 
 sible." 
 
 On coming here I realized I had made mis- 
 takes, but as they were mistakes and not crimes 
 or sins, my sorrow for them was suflScient pun- 
 ishment. I hardly understood conditions at once, 
 everything was so beautiful. Friends and loved 
 ones of my youth came and greeted me. I could 
 not understand everything, as my mind was eon- 
 fused at times by my sickness and did not clear 
 up at once. But the wife of my youth came to me. 
 With her came the babe I laid away shortly after 
 she left me, grown here into a beautiful woman, 
 but recognized at once by the ties of nature by 
 which all recognize their own, whether they have 
 changed from childhood to maturity or not. My 
 wife told me this beautiful place was our home 
 and that we should be together throughout all 
 time. Oh, how happy I was! 
 
 Then, all at once came the thought, "Where are 
 the rest — my wife I married later in life and the 
 mother of my girls I have just left? I have other 
 children here, too, if this is heaven." How can 
 I tell you of my happiness when they, too, came to 
 see me. My second wife was here; also my boy 
 and girl, both grown to maturity. My only boy, 
 that I was so proud of, who lived but a few weeks, 
 now grown to be a man, and his sister, who also 
 came here in her babyhood, were present. But 
 what of me now in the presence of my two wives ? 
 I for a moment was bewildered and they amused. 
 But, oh! how happy I was when Ellen told me 
 how we lived in spirit — how she had watched over 
 her little girls on earth — how happy she was to 
 
80 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 know I cared for them always the best I could 
 and that I would soon understand the laws that 
 govern this wonderful world. She told me of her 
 own home and that Nettie and I would always be 
 welcome, as was her first husband, whom I would 
 meet some day, and that her companion was 
 neither husband she had married on earth, but one 
 she was drawn to in spirit. She told me no jeal- 
 ousy existed and that my wives were as dear sis- 
 ters, as were my children of both marriages. They 
 told me they were often together and all went to- 
 gether to earth to try to make themselves known, 
 and have been working for an opportunity of this 
 kind for years to let those still left know they were 
 living, loving individuals that could help them 
 in many ways. How, you ask, can spirits help 
 you ? By your asking us to help you, not by pray- 
 ing but by asking your father, mother, or some 
 friend in spirit to help you in any way that you 
 earnestly desire. If it is for your good they will 
 know it and will work for you. There is little be- 
 yond spirit power. Your asking brings them near 
 you. If they see your desires are for your 
 own good, they will work and keep on working for 
 that end. They very seldom fail. So do not hesi- 
 tate to call on your dear ones in spirit and they 
 will draw very near. Those that you attract can 
 do much for you and are very willing. 
 
 If everyone understood this, what a difference 
 it would make in the world! I often wonder how 
 I could have been so ignorant of their presence 
 when I now understand how near they were to 
 me. I could even see and talk to them at times 
 during my last year of earth life. Yet I thought 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 81 
 
 my head was not quite right on account of my 
 paralysis. I have found that for every sorrow and 
 difiBculty I experienced on earth I have here an 
 added joy. So do not doubt but that the All 
 Power knows best and will doubly repay you on 
 coming here. Had I never known sorrow and 
 care on earth I could not experience the great joy 
 of the reverse, for words cannot tell of my happi- 
 ness. Father, mother, brothers and sisters all 
 have I found. What you may fear as death is only 
 the fountain of perpetual youth — a future life that 
 if you have lived to deserve it is beyond descrip- 
 tion. It is endless. Each hour of existence brings 
 a new delight. Live to deserve this great joy at 
 once and not have to earn it after coming here, as 
 many do. It may be hard, as my own lot was, 
 but it is worth even more trouble than came my 
 way, for each sorrow has a purpose and is to 
 strengthen you for this eternal life. 
 
CHAPTER XXVII 
 
 WHEN I was on earth I was a, Mormon. I 
 want to tell you of my life, both on earth 
 land here in spirit. I lived a good many years ago 
 where we thought we had found the only true re- 
 ligion. My parents were Mormons and I knew of 
 no other religion. Polygamy was practiced. 
 When I grew to manhood I fell in love with a 
 beautiful girl who lived near our home. She loved 
 me as devotedly as I did her and it was not long 
 until we were sealed in marriage. Our home was 
 so happy, I vowed that I would never be sealed 
 to another. All others were repulsive to me, for 
 I found in my beautiful Nellie all my longing for 
 love and companionship gratified. The very men- 
 tion of plural marriages made her shudder. But 
 I so often assured her that I would never take 
 another that she was satisfied and happy. I was a 
 mechanic and was prospering in our town. Our 
 baby girl was born and our home was complete. 
 Our happiness was envied by an elder in the 
 church and he began to lay plans that would ruin 
 our lives. He had daughters that he was anxious 
 to get rid of, for he had many wives. The elders 
 all knew my opinions in regard to polygamy, for 
 I had expressed my views many times. This did 
 not tend to make me especially liked. So they be- 
 gan by talking to my parents and telling them it 
 had been revealed to them that I should seal unto 
 myself another wife — one of the elder's daugh- 
 ters. 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 83 
 
 I would then, by obeying the laws that were 
 handed down to those in authority in the church, 
 become a great prophet among them. They pic- 
 tured to my parents great things if I obeyed and 
 the awful consequences if I should not, and con- 
 tinued to live in my selfishness, as they termed it. 
 Then our happy home became a very hell of 
 agony. They told my wife what horrible things 
 would occur if we did not obey. They so worked 
 on her fears for me that she gave her consent. 
 How I rebelled then against such a religion that 
 could prove such a curse. I would have risked all 
 and left that part of the country at once, but my 
 wife would not. I had never questioned the right 
 of others to marry more than one if their wish 
 was to do so. When this came home to me I saw 
 the hideousness of it all — the hiding of lust and 
 licentiousness under the cloak of religion. I de- 
 termined to be true to my wife and my own prin- 
 ciples if I went to hell for it. 
 
 Then I went to work quietly to find out all I 
 could about the Mormon religion. I pretended I 
 must have time before taking another wife to pre- 
 pare a home for her. I kept putting them off 
 in this manner. I sent for literature of other re- 
 ligious creeds and studied these sometimes into 
 the morning hours and worked all next day. 
 
 A missionary came to our town during this time 
 — one that belonged to no sect, but who was called 
 an evangelist. I hunted him up and told him of 
 our difficulty. He came to our home, none of our 
 people knowing he was there, and there convinced 
 my wife as well as myself that the Mormon re- 
 ligion was only a cloak in which to hide the sins 
 
84 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 of th(3 high officers of the church, who, by their 
 lies and deceit, caused hundreds of innocent peo- 
 ple to really think it was what they represented it 
 to be and to follow its teachings. Well, when we 
 were both convinced that our souls would not be 
 eternally damned if I did not take more wives, we 
 decided to leave the town and church forever, 
 which we did. There was much excitement caused 
 by our vanishing from their midst, for the elders 
 and our parents still thought I meant to do as 
 they wished. 
 
 We went to another state and began to enjoy 
 life once more. We studied other religious be- 
 liefs, for we thought we must belong to some 
 church. But we could find none that appealed to 
 us. We both lived to a good old age without ever 
 joining with any church. My beloved Nellie came 
 here to the spirit world just a few months ahead 
 of me and was waiting, in all her youth and 
 beauty, at the gates of a beautiful home, where 
 we will never more be separated for even a few 
 short months. We belonged to each other and 
 found each other on earth as it is not given to 
 many to do. This was the reason I could not fol- 
 low the teachings of my parents and the elders, 
 for where two are truly mated no others should 
 interfere. Where neither will be untrue suspicion 
 and jealousy do not exist. 
 
CHAPTER XXVIII 
 
 I WAS a queen on a throne on earth, beloved 
 by a few and hated by many. We of royal 
 blood are so hedged in and taught that we know 
 of no other life but our own. It is according to 
 what our inborn nature is whether we are good 
 or bad. We have very little taught us which is 
 for our benefit or that would show us right from 
 wrong. We are made to believe that our will is 
 law. We therefore become arrogant and proud, 
 and to feel it beneath us to do much but satisfy 
 ourselves. 
 
 But this is sometimes denied us. Even a queen 
 cannot always win the love of the one she desires. 
 If a great love comes into our lives it must be 
 smothered if it is not one whom we are at liberty 
 to marry. We must marry for the good of our em- 
 pire and diplomacy decides who it must be. Very 
 few are able to marry for love. This is what 
 causes so much wickedness and scandal, for roy- 
 alty is only flesh and blood after all. The rela- 
 tive who is chosen for us is seldom congenial and 
 then we look for happiness elsewhere. Imagine 
 the awful times we would have to keep our lovers 
 hidden and our secrets from becoming known. In 
 my time this was very common among us and was 
 only winked at, never very closely looked into. 
 We were all in the same class, the husbands as 
 well as the wives. Such jealousy existed that there 
 was nothing but turmoil and strife. Crimes with- 
 out number were committed which never became 
 
86 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 known. My husband, the king, did not think as 
 much of me as he did of the servants, as our mar- 
 riage was one of diplomacy, to keep peace between 
 the two countries. He would make love to my 
 ladies in waiting before my eyes and bring ladies 
 to entertain him in his own rooms. If I had loved 
 him this would have been torture. While it was 
 very humiliating I did not care at heart, for I 
 thought as little of him as he did of me. Children 
 we had none, and for this I was thankful. At my 
 husband's death his brother would ascend the 
 throne. I was not wicked at heart, but lived as I 
 was taught. A future existence I was taught very 
 little about. I was young and expected a long life. 
 This I did not have oji earth. 
 
 I was put to death at my husband's command 
 so that he could live more openly with his evil 
 companions. When I realized I still lived I had 
 no feeling but one of vengeance for the husband 
 who had caused my murder. I followed him about 
 as his shadow, trying in every way I could to ter- 
 rorize him. When he was under the influence 
 of wine I could make myself be seen by him. I 
 delighted in this and he suffered agony in terror 
 and remorse. No thought of doing anything else 
 occurred to me but to terrorize everyone I could. 
 The castle was soon said to be haunted by my 
 ghost, for others beside my husband could see me 
 at times. I caused all the confusion I could until 
 none in the great place could feel at ease. I could 
 see my husband's deeds of wickedness and could 
 picture it all to him so he could also see it. 
 
 I did not seem to feel any better myself that I 
 was getting my revenge and making him suffer. 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 87 
 
 Finally I began to think and to ask myself the 
 question, "Is this all that life in eternity consists 
 of, to revenge myself on those that wronged me ? ' ' 
 None of my friends or relatives who had died had 
 I seen. I was of the earth earthy and could not 
 get into their plane. Then my conscience began 
 to torment me by asking me many questions, and 
 I began to look at my appearance. I was hideous 
 to look upon and did not wonder that I fright- 
 ened those who could see me. I soon began to 
 suffer on my own account ; then I could have some 
 sympathy for others. I knew my husband regret- 
 ted his deed, but I felt no pity for him until I 
 began to suffer myself. Then I could begin to 
 feel for others and I knew I had not been blame- 
 less. How I suffered I cannot make you under- 
 stand. 
 
 I had been spoiled and pampered and now I had 
 to care for myself. This was an experience I did 
 not like, but I had to obey. And I had to care for 
 others who could not care for themselves. How I 
 rebelled and tried to get out of all tasks, but I 
 could not do this. The lowest servant in my 
 employ on earth never did the things that I was 
 compelled to do. By whom you ask? I cannot 
 tell. The tasks were before me and a voice I had 
 to obey bid me work to earn peace. I at last got 
 myself in a condition that I did not rebel, but 
 looked for something I could do for others. I 
 was among other spirits at this time on the same 
 plane as myself. By doing what was required of 
 me I raised myself out of my low condition, and 
 I have for many years enjoyed happiness that 
 those of earth can know nothing of. 
 
CHAPTER XXIX 
 
 I AM a Hindu and lived on earth, before the 
 Christ. I had great authority over my people. 
 We believed in the teachings of Buddha, which 
 are much like those of Jesus. 
 
 Your religions are all based on your Bible. The 
 so-called sayings of Jesus in your New Testament 
 are, many of them, very different from what Jesus 
 really taught. The books of the whole Bible are 
 very unreliable. Many of them were written auto- 
 matically by inspiration from the spirit world. No 
 prophet, seer or medium is infallible. Mistakes 
 have always occurred in getting ideas from the 
 spirit world and probably always will. 
 
 The translations through which the books of the 
 Bible have passed have changed their meaning to 
 such an extent that some parts the authors would 
 hardly recognize as their own. If these facts were 
 known and acknowledged the Bible would not be 
 considered infallible. 
 
 Because you can get messages from spirits, 
 either in writing, as was the case with much of 
 the Bible, or clairvoyantly, by seeing, clair- 
 audiently, by hearing, or intuitively, some have 
 mistakenly thought the messages from the other 
 world must be correct or the medium a fraud. 
 They do not consider what diflBculties we have to 
 overcome to get even a part of the truth to those 
 living on earth. If you imderstood this you would 
 not wonder that mistakes occur and would be ever 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 89 
 
 ready to make allowance. How often a message 
 over the telegraph or telephone is misinterpreted 
 and causes confusion, and yet no blame is at- 
 tached to the operator. Yet when you get a mes- 
 sage through a human instrument that we work so 
 hard to give, if some mistake occurs, how often 
 the first thought is that the medium is a fraud! 
 
 Another of your greatest mistakes is that you 
 think all coming from spirits should be truth, that 
 spirits know everything and what is best. Yet 
 you would not follow a friend's advice on earth 
 unless it appealed to your reason. This is what 
 you should do with the advice given from spirits. 
 They may be mistaken, as may you. They can- 
 not always tell what is best for you to do. True, 
 some can see farther than you, but all who may 
 reach you cannot. 
 
 Besides this, there may be spirits here ready to 
 deceive you and lead you astray. The first lesson 
 one on earth should learn is how to protect him- 
 self from the influence of spirits who might de- 
 ceive and harm him. As a rule, every person is 
 most susceptible to the influence of those whom he 
 attracts. And he must attract those spirits who 
 are in harmony with his life and his predominant 
 thoughts. Deceptive thoughts invite and open the 
 way for deceptive messages. The best protection 
 against bad influences is a noble, unselfish life. 
 This draws unselfish spirits and these are a body 
 guard. An earnest, honest desire to know of a 
 future life is itself the first step and a strong love 
 for someone in that life is the next step to the 
 free reception of messages. If one earnestly asks 
 he will finally receive. 
 
CHAPTER XXX 
 
 I AM a man that once had a home, wife and 
 children in the state of Illinois. I was a farmer 
 and had a farm of my own. But for one thing I 
 could have been successful and have been living on 
 the earth in the flesh to-day and not have been in 
 the awful condition I have been in for nineteen 
 years of your earth time. The one thing was that 
 which has damned more people than anything else. 
 It was whisky. I never drank but very little in 
 saloons. I was never seen staggering on the 
 streets, drunk. My use of it began by my carrying 
 it home in a bottle for medicine — for a stimulant 
 to keep away chills. I soon took it home in a jug 
 and had to go very often for it. I soon got so I 
 could not do without it. It began to tell on my 
 health. I became frightened then, and went to 
 various doctors, but got no relief. The thought 
 that I had been deliberately killing myself by 
 inches so worked upon me that I commenced to 
 weaken mentally. 
 
 For nearly nineteen years I have been a spirit 
 and knew it not until a few weeks ago. How have 
 I lived? Just as your vagrgints or tramps do on 
 earth. I roamed from place to place, never hav- 
 ing left the earth plane. I lived, though not suf- 
 fering as some do, in an awful unrest. My mind 
 has only cleared recently and I now understand 
 this and many other things of which I have been 
 ignorant for so long. I was only partially sane 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THB LEAL 91 
 
 when I entered here and I stayed in the same con 
 dition. No one was responsible for this but my- 
 self. I would go back to my old home on earth 
 and see how much better my wife was doing than 
 when I was there and managing things myself. 
 I would enter the home; they would not talk 
 to me, and ignored my presence. This, I thought, 
 was because of my mental trouble. I would go to 
 my mother 's home and it was the same. I was so 
 treated that I would get very angry with them all. 
 I would go to church, but got no comfort there. 
 The only comfort I found was with a cousin whom 
 I loved as a brother. But it was only when he 
 would be under the influence of liquor that I could 
 get in touch with him. At such times I could talk 
 to him and he would understand and talk to me. 
 Whether he remembered this afterwards, when 
 he was not under its influence, I do not know. 
 They tell me that my desire to get near him and 
 talk to him influenced him to drink when he other- 
 wise would not have done so. If this is true, I am 
 indeed sorry, for there is nothing I would not do 
 to make him happy. The last thing I would want 
 to do would be to cause him to drink the stuff 
 that ruined my own life on earth and caused this 
 unrest here for such a long time. 
 
 I had no idea of time when I came here, I was 
 in such a mental state, and could not believe it 
 possible that I had been here so long, when I 
 was told this. I could see my children growing 
 to manhood and womanhood, but did not realize 
 it on account of my condition. 
 
 On earth I was a strong, healthy man and never 
 thought it possible, when I commenced drinking, 
 
92 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 it could cause my death or do me any harm what- 
 ever. Doctors here have told me I had what they 
 term alcohol tuberculosis. It caused my cough 
 and literally ate up my stomach before it finally 
 killed me. Only now do I realize what I have done. 
 The years I have been a wanderer have been 
 sufficient to even up the score, for now I can see 
 clearly and everything looks bright and beautiful. 
 I have found my father and a son here in the beau- 
 tiful place I can now enter. To tell you I am 
 now happy, that my reason is at last restored, is 
 putting it mildly. I never wronged anyone know- 
 ingly on earth, and my only sin was against my- 
 self and the sorrow it caused my loved ones to see 
 me do this. We cannot sin even against ourselves 
 without paying the penalty. We also injure those 
 that love and depend upon us. I caused my wife 
 many sorrows, but she has not forgotten me. 
 She will never know how I have repented until 
 she, too, comes here. 
 
CHAPTER XXXI 
 
 WHEN on the earth plane many years ago I 
 was a dreamer of dreams, in which I had 
 great faith. Some would be given in symbols that 
 I could always interpret, and many came true. 
 After living my allotted time — for I was an old 
 man on coming here — I did not lose my interest in 
 the earth plane, but have always been interested 
 in its progress. So many changes take place in 
 a few years we cannot wonder at the changes of 
 hundreds of years. 
 
 Is it not a glorious privilege to keep up with all 
 progress? I was interested in dreams when on 
 earth, therefore it was my delight on coming here 
 to search for the cause of such experiences. I 
 met with success in my search because of the great 
 advantages I found and the advanced scholars of 
 this the spirit world. I soon found that dreams 
 are caused by the physical condition of the in- 
 dividual ; bad dreams arise from overfatigue or a 
 disordered or overloaded stomach. I have also 
 found, what was not so generally known formerly 
 as ^to-day, that there is a marked difference be- 
 tween dreams and visions in entrancement. The 
 latter are the dreams that come true. How often 
 you hear of or read of people being warned in 
 dreams, or have dreams that come true, and have 
 wondered at the strange phenomena. Such dreams 
 are caused by spirit guides, or loved ones, im- 
 pressing minds while the physical bodies are in a 
 
94 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 state of repose or relaxation. This is the only 
 time some individuals can be worked upon by 
 their spirit friends and loved ones. 
 
 The experience is so much like a dream that the 
 individual cannot distinguish the difference. 
 When you hear of some wonderful dream coming 
 to warn or tell an individual something he should 
 know, you will now understand it is an impres- 
 sion from a spirit and is not a dream. I have 
 experimented much along this line and have had 
 many strange experiences I could relate. I have 
 visited many homes on earth and given warnings 
 to many individuals who thought they had a 
 strange though wonderful dream. I will tell of 
 one instance of a young man to whom I was drawn, 
 as all must be who are able to do any work on 
 earth. I could vibrate or get in touch with him 
 only when he was asleep. He was a railroad man 
 — an engineer — and in the same manner you of 
 earth get impressions from spirits, so we here get 
 impressions from higher forces. I received the 
 impression that if the young man went out on 
 such an evening an accident would occur that 
 would cripple him for life, but would not kill him. 
 If he would not go it could be averted. I went to 
 him while he was sleeping very heavily, for he 
 was tired after making a long trip. It was hard 
 to get what I wished impressed on his mind suf- 
 ficiently for him to remember it the next morning, 
 but I persevered, and for three nights I worked 
 with him, telling him the same thing. He did not 
 think much about it the first night, but after the 
 third night he was very much troubled, and de- 
 cided to heed the warning, and the accident did 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 95 
 
 not occur. He never knew that by his not going 
 out on that especial trip the accident was pre- 
 vented, for it would have been caused by himself. 
 As nothing happened to the train, he just thought 
 himself foolish to have let his dream, as he 
 thought, influence him. He understands now, for 
 he, too, is here, and is also interested along this 
 line. Strange, wonderful things occur every day 
 that you cannot always account for. We are learn- 
 ing new truths each day and even to us who have 
 been here many, many years, this is an almost 
 undiscovered country. It will always continue to 
 give us something new to hand on down to you 
 when you are capable of understanding it. 
 
CHAPTER XXXII 
 
 I WAS one of the unfortunate ones of earth, for 
 I was an imbecile, or idiot, as you of earth 
 call us. All I ever knew of my earth life I have 
 learned since coming here, for no gleam of rea- 
 son or intelligence ever came to me in my eigh- 
 teen years of earth life. My father was a drunk- 
 ard. My mother, never strong physically or men- 
 tally, by the abuse of my father, entirely lost her 
 reason before I was born. Such were the condi- 
 tions in which I entered my earth existence. My 
 body was deformed and I could only feel pain 
 and hunger without the faculty of making it 
 known. My mother only lived a short time after 
 I was bom and I was placed in an institution 
 for such unfortunates, where I was kindly treated. 
 My awakening, or real birth, came when I en- 
 tered this life and it is impossible to describe it. 
 I was a woman grown to maturity with no more 
 knowledge than a new-born babe. Yet I was able 
 to understand in a few weeks what the babe, on 
 coming here, has to grow into. This was my ad- 
 vantage. I did not have to recall any wrongdoing 
 or unlearn anything I had been misinformed in, 
 as most do. My spirit faculties were developed so 
 that the higher forces or spirit individuals who 
 had reached an advanced state of progression 
 could more easily teach me than they can the 
 learned and educated of earth. These have to rid 
 themselves of so. much mistaken education that 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 97 
 
 it takes longer for them to understand, -while I 
 was ready to accept spirit truths without question. 
 I soon learned that nature is the all in all and 
 never makes a mistake. 
 
 What was my life for with its blank page of 
 eighteen years ? you ask. I do not know. Yet I 
 believe it served some purpose that it was intended 
 it should. Nature comprises all there is in exist- 
 ence and gives all a problem to study that eter- 
 nity cannot solve. Each may be satisfied with 
 his own solution of its mystery, but its grandeur 
 and magnitude are beyond conception. I am 
 happy. I wonder if there are others as happy. 
 Yet I realize that all who earn happiness gain it 
 at some time, yet I did not have to work for this 
 on coming into this beautiful life. This perhaps 
 explains the problem of my earth existence. Had 
 I been intelligent, what might not my earth life 
 have been, being brought into existence under the 
 conditions I have described? 
 
 Nature takes care of her own and do not doubt 
 her being able to do so. Although we may not 
 understand, I realize, as you all will some day, 
 that whatever is, is best, and is planned by a 
 power that is divine — ^that cannot err. Not in the 
 dawning of the morning, but in the coming ages 
 will your minds become capable of understanding. 
 There is nothing that you will not be able to com- 
 prehend except the one great mystery which, if 
 solved, would cause absolute annihilation, for 
 then progression would cease, as there would be 
 nothing more to be desired. This is the opinion 
 of one who is desirous of doing some good, be it 
 ever so little. 
 
98 PROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 I am not greatly interested in the earth, plane, 
 but want to learn of the realms of spirit. I have 
 written this by request of the Washington Band. 
 They asked me to write, knowing that people have 
 often wondered in what condition such as I was 
 on earth enter into the spirit world, I have told, 
 as plainly as I know how, of my own individual 
 experience, which I believe is the same as with 
 all others so aflBicted. 
 
CHAPTER XXXIII 
 
 I WAS one who was called a religious fanatic. 
 I wanted to start a new sect, with myself as 
 the head, and count my followers by the thou- 
 sands. I was earnest at first and thought I was 
 called to do a great work in the world. But I soon 
 found the people who came under my influence fol- 
 lowed me blindly. Then the desire for wealth 
 and power overcame all the good plans I had 
 formed and I worked for nothing else. 
 
 It is a strange thing to me, even now, to look 
 back over my experiences and see how easily 
 people can be duped when it comes to religion. It 
 only shows how the world is striving for enlight- 
 enment, but in their eagerness they can be led by 
 any strong-minded man or woman who gives them 
 something new. No matter how ridiculous it may 
 be, there are always some to whom it will appeal 
 and they think they alone have found the truth. 
 I founded a colony and lived like a king. But 
 I was then an old man and did not hold my power 
 long. Yet wealth was gained and I enjoyed my 
 power. I did not know that, on coming here into 
 the unknown, I would bitterly repent of what I 
 had taught and be able to look on my deluded 
 followers, and see what I had done. I now per- 
 ceived that they would come into this life mis- 
 informed and I was the cause. My grief and re- 
 morse have been great and my work is still among 
 those people. I use all the influence I can com- 
 
100 FROM THE LAND O'THB LEAL 
 
 mand to undo my work and it is no easy task. 
 I go to their temple, and instead of accomplish- 
 ing what I wish, it seems I only stir up strife 
 among them and I can see little progress. How 
 often I have regretted what I did. If I had only 
 gone on as sincerely as when I started I could have 
 accomplished some good, but the love of wealth 
 and power was too great a temptation for me 
 and I worked for these ends. So I must now work, 
 as I never did on earth, to undo this. And I can 
 tell you it is very discouraging. There are many 
 here such as I in the same condition of unrest, 
 working now for the good of those we misled. 
 But seeing such small or even no progress is the 
 greatest punishment for us. It shows us our 
 weakness, but when on earth it showed our 
 strength. If you on earth wish to give something 
 new to the world, be sure you are sincere and are 
 not giving it for your own benefit. Even if you 
 are mistaken yet sincere it will not cause you any 
 sorrow here. But otherwise you will regret it in 
 bitterness of spirit such as you cannot now dream. 
 I can see now that I shall some day be happy, but 
 not until I can change the conditions on earth that 
 I made. I have been able to do a little, but not 
 what I wish. I have many helpers with me and 
 hope some day to clear the minds of all those I 
 influenced and taught wrongly. Then I can be 
 happy and go on progressing. 
 
CHAPTER XXXIV 
 
 1HAVE only been here a few short weeks, but 
 many are the wonders I have seen. I am pleased 
 with this opportunity of letting my loved ones 
 know how it is with John, and that I am more 
 alive than I ever was in my twenty-six years of 
 earth life. The folks have the right idea of my 
 accident. I was careless, and when I struck a 
 deep hole with the pole with which I was pushing 
 myself across the river on the raft, it caused me 
 to plunge head first into the water, and the shock 
 and my heavy clothing prevented me from making 
 any effort to save myself. I never rose to the sur- 
 face. 
 
 I can hardly explain my sensation; it was not 
 one of pain. My first thought when I realized I 
 was drowned was that my earth life is taken even 
 as I have just taken the lives of the birds. Then 
 for the first time in my life I realized the cruelty 
 of the himter, when it is not necessary to kill for 
 food, but to kill for sport. I believed in eternal 
 life, but had no idea of how such life existed. I 
 had friends who believed in spiritualism and this 
 interested me, and also aided me in understanding 
 things here. My brother came and took me away, 
 so I did not see them find my body. We did not 
 go with them to my funeral, for my brother, who 
 had grown to manhood, and now looked like his 
 twin brother on earth, would not let me. He said 
 I was not yet strong enough to see the grief of 
 
102 PROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 my parents and brothers and sisters, but he said 
 we would go later when they felt more resigned. 
 
 It was a shock to them that will never be for- 
 gotten while they are on earth. My only sorrow 
 was for them. Though young in years, with the 
 prospect of a long life before me, I realize even 
 now it was for the best and that I shall escape 
 sorrow untold by my early entrance into eternal 
 life. Think of the pleasure it will be to me to 
 visit all parts of the world and, I am told, many 
 more worlds when I have progressed enough to 
 do so. I was a roamer, with the desire to see and 
 learn of different places, and these desires can 
 now so easily be gratified without money or toil. 
 
 I can now go to Panama in a few moments, while 
 it took me days when I was on earth. I can view 
 the work there with the clear vision of spirit, and 
 see mistakes in the work that I could not when 
 there. I do not feel the heat of the climate as I 
 did, but can see its beauty as never before. I 
 fear the canal will never be the success that is 
 expected of it, for there are many flaws in the 
 construction and climatic conditions are not in 
 its favor. But many here are watching it with 
 interest. I was interested in this kind of work on 
 earth, so why should I not be now! I have oppor- 
 tunities that I never could have had on earth of 
 learning along these lines. So do not think, you 
 who recognize me, that I regret my going, for I 
 do not. I am only glad that I have made the 
 change that you all must make. 
 
 How pleased I was to learn that no life can be 
 blotted out. The little birds that I killed in my 
 last act on earth are living, happy creatures here 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 103 
 
 in spirit, more beautiful still than they were on 
 earth. So it is with all living things. The change 
 of death purifies all bird and animal life. Birds 
 are beautiful here beyond description. 
 
CHAPTER XXXV 
 
 PEG o'THE POOBHOtrSB 
 
 IT was Christmas at the poorhouse, 
 An old woman sat forlorn, 
 Wondering for what purpose 
 She was ever born. 
 
 Eighty years' work for others 
 
 Is ended at last, you see. 
 Now I'm "Old Peg o'the Poorhouse," 
 
 And not one remembers me. 
 
 Memory takes me backward 
 
 To the place I first saw the light, 
 
 In a little home in the country. 
 And it was on Christmas night. 
 
 I was happy in my childhood. 
 Oft tripping over the snow 
 
 To the little country schoolhouse 
 When the winter winds did blow. 
 
 For the schoolhouse was the center 
 
 Of all our youthful joys. 
 For there we always gathered. 
 
 We country girls and boys. 
 
 'Twas there we had our Christmas tree, 
 All loaded with gifts and light. 
 
 Then I was Margaret Weatherby, 
 And a country belle that night. 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 106 
 
 It was there I met my Donald — 
 My lad who was brave and true. 
 
 We had two years of happiness, 
 When he donned his country's blue. 
 
 They sent him home — he was dying — 
 
 To me and his baby dear. 
 And my grief — it was so bitter 
 
 That I could not shed a tear. 
 
 I tried to live for my baby, 
 And struggled in hope, alone, 
 
 Thinking I might be happy 
 When my little Donald was grown. 
 
 But even this was denied me. 
 
 Before one year had fled 
 My beautiful boy was lying 
 
 In the churchyard's narrow bed. 
 
 Life held for me then no purpose. 
 
 And death past me would fly; 
 To me it would have been welcome 
 
 As the lonely years went by. 
 
 Now I'm "Old Peg o'the PoorhoiTse," 
 And have not one friend on earth. 
 
 Just eighty years this very night 
 
 Since the Christmas that gave me birth. 
 
 where did you come from, husband? 
 
 Did you come that I might sever 
 My connection with the poorhouse. 
 
 And be Peg o' your heart forever! 
 
106 PROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 That I can leave this tired old body 
 And be young and glad once more, 
 
 And live with you and Donald 
 On yonder beautiful shore f 
 
 Thus they found ' ' Peg o 'the Poorhouse, ' 
 The sun shone on her white hair. 
 
 At last she had found her loved ones 
 And a home most sweet and fair. 
 
CHAPTER XXXVI 
 
 ANOTHER mother wishes to give her experi- 
 ence. I came here, as near as I can remem- 
 ber, about thirty-seven or thirty-eight years ago. 
 It is very hard to be exact in regard to time, for 
 we count it as naught on this side of life. We 
 know eternity is before us and time matters not. 
 I came here while still young in years, leaving five 
 little children behind nie, practically, as I soon 
 saw, to shift for themselves. When their father 
 left me a widow I had not the means to keep them 
 with me, but gave them into the keeping of my 
 husband's sisters. How I longed to make it possi- 
 ble to have them all with me again, but this I was 
 never able to do. 
 
 I went to care for a sick friend whose sickness 
 developed into the cholera, which at that time was 
 raging over the state of Illinois. I took it and 
 never recovered or was able to look on the faces 
 of my little ones again while in the body, but I 
 have watched them unseen and know them better 
 than had we lived in the same house on earth all 
 these years. I want my boys to know that my 
 whole aim while in earth life was to have them 
 with me again. I was working with this end in 
 view when death changed my plans for me, and 
 I had to leave them. While we have not been 
 parted, I have had to live unseen and unknown by 
 them. That is one cause of sorrow for me. 
 
 How often, oh how often, have I followed them 
 
108 PROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 to places to which I did not want them to go — 
 into barrooms where many spirit mothers stand 
 by the side of son or husband, trying to persuade 
 them in their silent, unseen way to leave the ac- 
 cursed places, and go to their homes. Sometimes 
 I have been able to do this and sometimes I have 
 failed ; but our patience never falters, and we are 
 there again the next time. While I have never 
 been able to influence them to quit drinking, I 
 have always, so far, been able to keep them from 
 getting killed or injured. 
 
 For this I am thankful, for I do not want them 
 to come here to work out of this condition, as 
 they must, if they do not fight against it on earth. 
 All bad habits must be conquered, and it is easier 
 done while still on earth. It does not take long. 
 Make up your mind, be firm and the battle is 
 fought that will make you happier and make 
 mothers in spirit happy beyond expression. We 
 are not always on the earth plane with our loved 
 ones. But we, in our beautiful homes in the skies, 
 can tell instantly by intuition, when our dear ones 
 need or want us; and we go at once from any 
 distance to the earth and help them in our silent 
 way. The fathers, too, are interested in their 
 children's welfare; but a father's love is not like 
 a mother's. A father can easily be weaned away 
 from his children by new interests, but a mother 
 never. The happiest day that will ever dawn for 
 me will be when I have them all safe with me 
 here. Yet I know I shall have to wait many years. 
 All are older in years now than I was at the time 
 of my coming and they were so young that they 
 scarcely remember ever having a mother. But it 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 109 
 
 is the truth that no mother ever forgets her own, 
 no matter how long the separation. 
 
 Time and space are unlimited. Years count as 
 naught. As ages roll on, we only gain in knowl- 
 edge. We retain our youth always with no pain 
 or ache in our spiritual bodies. We can go and 
 come at will any distance, in a moment of time, 
 with no conveyance but our desire. If we desire 
 to go to a certain place, there we are. It is a 
 mistaken way to put it, to tell you we are always 
 with you. This is not true. But we are always 
 in touch, we will say, for this expresses it the 
 best. We know when you want us or have need 
 of us and we come at once and do what we can, 
 then return again to our homes. We do what 
 pleases us best and are not required to do what 
 is distasteful to us after we have made all wrongs 
 of earth life right. 
 
CHAPTER XXXVII 
 
 YOU have read of the experience of mothers. 
 I will now tell you of the experience of one 
 that refused this sacred, natural duty. I lived 
 on earth many years ago, but to-day there are 
 more women following in my footsteps than ever 
 before. Let me tell you what may be their fate 
 through relating my own experiences. I was rich 
 in my own right and my husband had great wealth 
 also. All my ambition in life was to procure 
 jewels, to gain admiration, and to be a leader in 
 society. I was beautiful and I used everything 
 money could buy that was beautiful to adorn my- 
 self. My husband was proud of me and I loved 
 him, but I loved myself and the admiration of 
 others more. Children I thought of with contempt 
 and would have none of them, for I did not want 
 to lose my beauty of form. So I resorted to abor- 
 tion time and time again. But instead of keeping 
 my beauty by this means, it was the very thing 
 that caused me to lose it and helped to send me 
 early into spirit life a pauper, without a home. 
 Here I found myself in an agony of mind that 
 I cannot picture to you. I had never had to even 
 put on my own shoes, or comb my own hair, hav- 
 ing maids from childhood to wait upon me. Im- 
 agine my condition, if you can, on finding myself 
 in a world where all must wait on themselves and 
 care for themselves. I could not get into my old 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 111 
 
 home on earth. I found myself on what appeared 
 to me a desert. No homes were there. 
 
 I suffered, not with cold or heat, but in mind. 
 I could look upon myself and see my beauty gone 
 and myself hideous to my own sight. But the 
 worst of all was my loneliness. I .afterwards 
 learned that such was my condition, though spirits 
 could approach me, I could not see them or know 
 they were near. Yet they were watching over 
 me, the same as they are over you on earth, 
 though unseen and unknown by you until you 
 make a way possible for them to let you know of 
 their presence and help. This I had to do. I had 
 to suffer alone till I realized the cause of this 
 condition. 
 
 Then worse agony was in store for me; for 
 nothing can equal the torture of remorse. I in- 
 quired at last what I could do to better my con- 
 dition ! The answer came to me out of the silence : 
 "Go to the slums of your city and there work 
 among the infants that are brought into existence 
 in poverty and disease." I hesitated for a time, 
 but the voice again bade me go, and I consented. 
 No sooner did I give my consent than I found 
 myself there among wretchedness that I never 
 knew existed. I wondered what they would think 
 of my presence, but I knew I would never be rec- 
 ognized, for I was clothed in a somber robe that 
 fell in long, loose lines about me, so that my own 
 husband would never have recognized his once 
 beautiful wife. But I soon found they could not 
 see me. At first I thought that even these people 
 ignored me, but I soon found they could neither 
 see me nor sense my presence, but the wailing, 
 
112 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 suffering infants could, and my work commenced. 
 I could touch them and quiet their pain when 
 their mothers could do nothing with them. Many 
 are the babes I saved to live a life of great useful- 
 ness in the world. I do not know how long I 
 worked in this way, but it was years. 
 
 I was not long alone, for when my earnestness 
 in the work began many lovely spirits came to 
 my assistance and the work I once shrank from 
 I then began to love. At last that part of my 
 nature which had lain dormant all my earth life 
 began to be awakened. It was mother love. It is 
 a natural attribute and if not awakened in earth 
 life it is likely to be here. 
 
 Now, another sorrow came. I realized that I 
 could never feel the touch of my own babies' 
 hands or ever hear child of mine call me by the 
 sacred name of mother. You have read of soul 
 germs and that they cannot be killed, which is 
 true. If I had had my mother-nature developed 
 to the extent that I wanted children, I would have 
 found them in spirit. But I did not do this and 
 they reincarnated and are children of another 
 who let them find their earth expression by being 
 born naturally; and I shall never know who or 
 what they are. This is a regret that I have never 
 been able to get over and I do not know whether 
 I ever shall or not. I have a beautiful home and 
 surroundings here now that I have earned. But 
 for this drawback I could be happy. I am told 
 that happiness will, some day, be mine, but it has 
 been long in coming. Yet I know no one is to 
 blame but myself. If our ideas of right and 
 wrong are dwarfed on earth, we have to work our- 
 
PROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL IIS 
 
 selves up to a higher standard here. Then our 
 real education will begin. By our own efforts 
 only can we gain the happiness which is possible 
 for us to enjoy. 
 
CHAPTER XXXVIII 
 
 I WILL not speak of my earth life only that I 
 had consumption, the kind that develops slowly 
 and wears life away. I thought I was prepared 
 to die and would welcome a release from suffer- 
 ing. I trusted to a Savior that I thought had for- 
 given my sins and would welcome me to eternal 
 rest and release from pain. I was not a young 
 man and in my youth I had wronged many. This 
 I had in a measure forgotten. I had been tortured 
 so long with the terrible cough that I prayed al- 
 most unceasingly and thought I was forgiven and 
 at peace with my Maker. 
 
 I came here suddenly at the last, when I was 
 not expecting it. All at once I felt perfectly 
 strong and vigorous. All pain left me. I could 
 see no Savior or golden streets. What I viewed 
 was a very natural sight that one could see every 
 day. I had not left the earth. I walked about 
 the place. It was summer and everything looked 
 beautiful. Now that I was free from physical 
 pain, I could see beauty in everything. I knew 
 that I had changed, but I was not sure that it 
 was death, for I was not expecting anything like 
 this. I felt the health and strength that was 
 mine in my youth. 
 
 I went into the house, and never shall I forget 
 that sight. My wife was growing old. Her hair 
 was like silver in its whiteness. She was kneel- 
 ing there over my emaciated body, that looked 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 115 
 
 horrible to me, in such sorrow and grief. How 
 everything came back to me then. How I had 
 neglected her in so many ways, taking all her 
 care and devotion as my right and even thinking, 
 many times, I was not treated as I deserved, I 
 was so extremely selfish. Oh ! how I tried to get 
 her to understand I was not there and to ask 
 her to forgive me for all my harsh words and 
 unkindness; but I could not make her hear. 
 
 My agony was far greater than her own, for 
 she had nothing to regret and I had. How clearly 
 I could now see, and how bitterly I repented. If 
 I could only have gone back into that old worn- 
 out body, how gladly I would have done so, even 
 to suffer again the wrecking cough, if, by this 
 means, I could make up to her my neglect and 
 unkindness and think only of her and her comfort 
 for a few more years. But this I could not do. 
 My sorrow was so great that eternity can never 
 efface it from my memory. 
 
 I loved her dearly, but never showed it. Now 
 it was too late to let her know. I could see all 
 she had suffered through her love for me. I hope 
 that those who read this will be kind to their own 
 and never do and say things that they will re- 
 gret. It may not always be easy to do this, but, 
 oh ! it will pay. I tried to comfort her, but could 
 not do it. 
 
 It was not long till she, too, came here. When 
 I saw this change coming, how glad I was, for 
 I thought, "Now I can make it up to her." But 
 my joy was only short lived; for, when she en- 
 tered here, she was far above me in progression 
 and my power to reach her was in vain. Thus 
 
116 PROM THE LAND O'THB LEAL 
 
 my sorrow was greater than ever. But I soon 
 learned that I can, by earnest effort, reach her 
 state, and we can be happy together at last. There 
 was so much I had to make right that my own 
 progression has been slow, but I can see a happy 
 reunion in the distance. She has been a great 
 help to me and has taught me much. But I have 
 to work myself. When I am able to reach her side 
 and we can work hand in hand and in harmony 
 of spirit together, such great happiness will be 
 mine that I wonder if I shall care to farther pro- 
 gress. But I am assured that we can go on and 
 on together and greater joys will be ours. 
 
 We lived together over thirty-eight years, had 
 a family of children that grew up and had homes 
 of their own, and we were not happy. Yet love 
 was in our hearts for each other. It was all my 
 fault that inharmony existed. We were mated 
 on earth for eternity, yet I had to enter here to 
 find this out and that it was my own cruelty and 
 unkindness that caused our imhappiness on earth. 
 She has been waiting for me all these years and 
 the day is now not far distant when I shall again 
 live in her presence and we be happy together 
 forever. 
 
CHAPTER XXXIX 
 
 I AM of tlie African race. I was born a slave 
 and never knew freedom till I found it here. 
 Was I black? Yes, so black that, as the saying 
 is, "Charcoal would have made a white mark on 
 my face." Am I black now that I am a spirit? 
 No, yet I am still a negro. When I come to earth 
 again I am still black, for I take on my old earth 
 conditions and therefore must look as I did on 
 earth. While we are not black here, we are not 
 white unless we desire to be. Yet we are as beau- 
 tiful as any. The most of us desire a rich, dark 
 color. Very few stay entirely as they were on 
 earth. As our lives were, so are we. If we were 
 good then we are beautiful in face and form; if 
 not, we are dwarfed and hideous as are the spirits 
 of all races. As the flowers of earth vary, so we 
 of different races vary here. All have their own 
 particular beauty, yet all are different. 
 
 I cannot say that, even though a slave on earth, 
 I was unhappy; for I had a kind master; and 
 my lot was better than many that are free to-day. 
 Are you not all on earth either masters or slaves ? 
 You who have to toil for daily bread and some- 
 times have to take all kinds of abuse are in as 
 bad a condition as were we. I sometimes think, 
 as I look over the earth and see it as it is, that 
 we fared the best. The slaves, while not having 
 the best by any means, never suffered for food 
 or clothing. It did not pay our masters to abuse 
 
118 PROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 US in this way. It made us unfit for work, and 
 work was what was required of us. So, on the 
 whole, we were not badly treated. It was the old 
 story that caused all the trouble — the greed of 
 gold by the masters. 
 
 They began a traffic in human life to gain gold. 
 But the great Civil War, that freed our race from 
 the traffic of openly buying and selling, did not 
 end slavery by any means. To-day the slaves of 
 earth are counted by the hundreds of thousands 
 and they are in a much worse condition than were 
 we. Capital is the master and labor its slaves. 
 The majority of the wealthy on earth would sell 
 people body and soul, if they could, to gain more 
 gold. Money is rightly called "the root of all 
 evil." For it, intoxicating liquors are manufac- 
 tured, which destroy the body and bring misery 
 to the soul. Yet people cannot live in modern 
 civilized countries without it. 
 
 The spirit world is the only place it counts as 
 naught. All the gold one could handle in a life- 
 time can do him no good here. Furthermore, if 
 he has gained it by fraud, or by enslaving those 
 that earned it for him or did not give them fair 
 return for their labor, he will wish, when he comes 
 here, that he had been a pauper. It will be the 
 means of causing him great suffering. He and 
 those like him can then see the suffering they have 
 caused others by making them labor from early 
 morning till late at night and not giving them 
 even a living wage. 
 
 Such slavery, as I view it from this side of life, 
 I consider worse than that in which I lived. But 
 we have hope that conditions will change for the 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THB LEAL 119 
 
 better and that all may have a better chance than 
 they have at present. But I fear things will grow 
 even worse before this change will take place. 
 However, it is bound to come. Labor will demand 
 its rights and will get them, too; for, without 
 labor nothing can be accomplished. 
 
CHAPTER XL 
 
 I AM a woman and was born in slavery. I was 
 born in South Carolina and my earliest recol- 
 lections are of a little cabin home among the mag- 
 nolia trees near the cotton fields. I had a kind 
 master, and one that took great pride in his slaves. 
 He did not treat them harshly, but made them 
 work. The overseers were not so kind and many 
 received the lash that our master never knew any- 
 thing about. I grew to womanhood in the cotton 
 fields and I was happy. In the evening we would 
 all gather at some cabin and sing and dance till 
 the small hours. In the morning we would again 
 go to work. If I could always have lived under 
 this master and married one of his slaves, as I 
 intended doing, I would have been spared great 
 suffering. 
 
 But a rich planter noticed me one day when 
 he was riding with master over the plantation 
 and wanted to buy me for a house servant. My 
 master at first refused. But as he was offered a 
 good price and was pressed at this time for ready 
 money, he at last consented and I had to go. He 
 wanted the man to buy Martin also, so we could 
 be together and be married as we had planned. 
 This he promised to do a little later; but it was 
 only in order to get me. He had no intention of 
 doing this. 
 
 My life was accursed from that hour. I was 
 not fit for the housework and knew nothing about 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 121 
 
 it. This would anger my master's wife and she 
 would treat me very cruelly. At last, after vain 
 efforts to please her, I was told I would have to 
 work in the fields again. This I was glad to do, 
 but the slaves here were not treated as they were 
 by my old master, and Martin was never per- 
 mitted to see me. I was told I could have a little 
 cabin by myself, by my master. But I did not 
 want this, for I was afraid. But in the end I had 
 to submit and my master gained the desire that 
 he had planned from the first. My heart was 
 given to one of my own race and I had the true 
 woman's instinct to be true to myself, which every 
 woman possesses for her protection, no matter 
 whether a slave girl or a lady. But what was I 
 to do when I was not allowed to do this? 
 
 I had to submit to my owner. Then such a hell 
 of anger entered my heart for the whole white 
 race that I determined to be revenged. I did not 
 have to work in the fields now that I had found 
 favor with my master. But I was biding my time. 
 I had hidden in my bosom the dagger that I, at 
 last, got the opportunity to use in striking home 
 into the heart of the dastard who ruined many 
 poor, innocent slave girls in the same manner. I 
 took to the swamps and for days I had nothing to 
 eat but roots and wild fruit, but I existed till I 
 got word, by meeting one of my old master's 
 slaves, to Martin, that I was fleeing for my life 
 and of what I had done. I knew they would not 
 betray me. I also knew he would not dare come 
 with me, for we would be too easily tracked and 
 captured. Well, it was some time before I finally 
 gave up. I had nowhere to go. No one would 
 
122 FROM THE LAND O'THB LEAL 
 
 take in a runaway slave. I knew if the blood- 
 hounds got on my track they would make short 
 work of me. So I did what many poor slave girls 
 had to do. I jumped or rather fell — for my 
 strength was gone— into a peaceful southern river 
 that closed over my poor, tired body and gave me 
 the comfort I craved. I never made a struggle; 
 neither did I feel pain, but only a sense of rest 
 and security that I never knew before. I do not 
 know how long I stayed in this pleasant, dreamy 
 state. 
 
 People of my own race were around me when 
 I awoke to consciousness. They told me to fear 
 not, for nobody could harm me now; that I was 
 beyond the power of masters to harm, and that I 
 was a slave no more, but free as the birds I had 
 so often envied. Peace and happiness have always 
 been mine since coming here. But not so with 
 my master. How he begged my forgiveness for 
 wronging me and how he has had to atone for his 
 sins ! Justice could not condemn me for stopping 
 his career of crime, so I never suffered for his 
 murder. There are always two sides to everything, 
 and here is the only place we can see and judge 
 correctly. While the open traffic in human life 
 was put a stop to by our great martyr, Lincoln, 
 whom we here all revere and love, you to-day 
 need another Lincoln to put a stop to the white 
 slave traffic which is a blot on civilization and 
 worse than the slavery of my time. 
 
CHAPTEE XLI 
 
 I WAS a child of the street. I belonged to those 
 of whom many know so little that they class 
 them all together as undesirables. I wish to give 
 my side of the story. Home, I can say, I never 
 had. I never had the influence of a mother's love. 
 If I had only known, as I now do, that a loving 
 mother was watching me from her heavenly home, 
 what a difference it would have made in my life. 
 I was taken from an orphans' home into a family 
 that cared nothing for me, only what I was able 
 to do for them. I worked early and late, and 
 received nothing but unkind treatment. I was 
 only about ten years old at the time I was taken 
 from the home where, if I was not happy, I was 
 not unkindly treated, and where we all fared 
 alike. The home I was taken into had children 
 of about my own age. While they had pleasures 
 and fine clothing, I was neglected and only knew 
 hard work. This made me envious of them and 
 when I got a few years older I determined to en- 
 joy life myself. I would slip out of the house 
 after all thought I was in bed, for this was the 
 only time I could get. I could not meet anyone 
 in this manner who was good, but I did not know 
 this then. The companions I made soon led me 
 into vice, of which I did not even know the nature. 
 I was ignorant, and innocent, and easily led. I 
 had grown very pretty and made friends wherever 
 I went. Oh, how I craved love, and kindness! 
 
124 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 If I had only received these from the family with 
 whom I lived, I would not now be writing this. 
 They have much to answer for. My first mistake 
 was to go to the dance halls, and from there into 
 the wine-rooms. Then my downward course was 
 fast. Someone told the people where I lived that 
 I was frequenting the dance halls, and had been 
 seen with questionable company. They asked me 
 of this. I did not deny it, but told them I had 
 to have some amusement and, as they never per- 
 mitted me to have any, I just took it as my right 
 and would do as I pleased. "Well, they turned me 
 from their doors. They were very religious peo- 
 ple and went to church very regularly. I went 
 to my companions and we drifted together. If 
 we sinned, we also suffered. But what were we 
 to do? No one held out a helping hand or ever 
 encouraged us to make a new start in life. Some 
 who lead a life of crime and sin have happy homes 
 and good parents, who tried to bring them up 
 properly, I know. But it is not so with the ma- 
 jority. And who are you to judge? You can 
 never see clearly till you come here, where all 
 wrongs must be righted. 
 
 I did not live long on earth. My health was 
 never good, and I soon came here. I died on the 
 streets, the only home I ever had on earth, of 
 hemorrhage of the lungs. None ever gave a 
 thought of pity that one so young in years should 
 go in this way, but were glad the city was well 
 rid of such as I. 
 
 Well, how did I fare when I came to conscious- 
 ness here? Pious people who draw their skirts 
 away for fear of contamination will no doubt be 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 125 
 
 surprised. An angel mother, more beautiful than 
 any picture I had ever beheld, took me in her 
 arms and said, "You are my beloved daughter, 
 and if you have sinned your sufferings on earth 
 have paid the debt and now I can take you with 
 me to a home the first, my child, that has ever 
 opened its doors in love." Can anyone imagine 
 J^y joy — uaother, home and heaven— all mine at 
 last; not for a time, but for eternity! 
 
CHAPTER XLII 
 
 1AM a suffragette. I have not been here long, 
 but long enough to know the time is ripe for 
 our work, and it must continue. I am an English 
 woman. I rejoice at the large number of women 
 in America who are in sympathy with, and work- 
 ing for the same cause. Many of you are criticiz- 
 ing us for being so radical and resorting to vio- 
 lence to gain our ends. The stories have been 
 greatly exaggerated by the press. The majority 
 of the papers that are published are against us. 
 They do not give correct accounts, and only pub- 
 lish one side of the story. Men must finally give 
 us equal rights with them. Why should they set 
 themselves on a higher plane when they owe their 
 very existence to woman! She it is who suffers to 
 give them birth, yet they, when grown to man- 
 hood, think themselves so superior and so much 
 more capable than even the women who are bet- 
 ter educated and better informed on current 
 events of the day. They are so unfair as to think 
 women are not capable of casting the vote that 
 gives to the man elected the power to make the 
 laws under which she has to live and work and 
 which she must obey. While I regret that the 
 English suffragettes, of whom I am still one, had 
 to resort to violence before they could get a hear- 
 ing or any notice whatever paid to them, they 
 were so insignificant in the sight of men, yet we 
 have started the ball rolling that will gather ad- 
 herents from all over the world. 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 127 
 
 We on this side are still as eager as any; and 
 are helping by standing by our leaders, and giv- 
 ing them of our help and influence in all ways 
 we can. There are many on this side watching 
 the struggle. I was enthused to such an extent 
 that my coming into the spirit world hardly 
 changed me at all. Although I thought my work 
 as a militant suffragette would end when I found 
 I must die, my surprise and pleasure were great 
 when I found that I was the same person and 
 oould ^work with the many I found here who are 
 interested in the cause. If my co-workers on earth 
 could realize that I am still with them, I should 
 be greatly pleased. I can do more now than I 
 ever could before for the cause I love. There is 
 every reason to be encouraged. You will win in 
 the end. Men will not always consent to putting 
 their mothers, their wives and their daughters on 
 a lower plane of life than themselves. My mes- 
 sage to all womankind is to stand up bravely for 
 your rights — to gain that which should be yours 
 without even the asking — the right to be the co- 
 worker and have equal rights with man. 
 
CHAPTER XLIII 
 
 THIS book would scarcely be complete without 
 the experience of a preacher. My earth life 
 I will not dwell upon only to say I was a Meth- 
 odist minister and sincerely tried to practice 
 what I myself preached. My home life was very 
 happy, with wife and children. My greatest 
 pleasure was to gather the children of my con- 
 gregation about me in Sunday school and hear 
 them sing the songs that I loved. How my heart 
 would throb with gratitude to the God I wor- 
 shiped for giving me this work to do. But when 
 I would get settled and begin, as I thought, to 
 accomplish something, conference would send me 
 to some other place. This is one of the mistakes 
 of our church, as I can now see. 
 
 I came here while still comparatively young 
 in years. I soon found how very little people of 
 earth know of a future life with all their colleges 
 that are supposed to be authority on all theologi- 
 cal points. I was at first, I must admit, chagrined 
 to think I was so badly mistaken. But I soon got 
 over this when those I loved who had preceded 
 me came to me in this world of beauty and 
 grandeur and explained things that had puzzled 
 me in my work on earth. I was overjoyed to 
 know that things were so much better than I had 
 imagined they could be. The worst mistake I 
 made was to teach and preach of Jesus' power 
 to save to the uttermost and that He was the only 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 129 
 
 begotten Son of a living God. It did not take 
 me long to discover this mistake. Jesus of Naz- 
 areth, whom I loved and worshiped all my life, 
 came to me and taught me the truth. He showed 
 me that we are all children of the same God and 
 that He was only our elder brother, born as we 
 all are, of an earthly father and mother. He 
 said he never taught that He was the Savior and 
 Redeemer of the world, but taught all His earth 
 life the Golden Eule — To do unto others as you 
 would have others do unto you. And that when 
 the ruler came to Him to inquire the way of sal- 
 vation and what he must do to inherit eternal 
 life. He told him he must be born again. Which 
 meant being bom into the spirit world, which is 
 called death. When this is taught from church 
 pulpits, there will then be no empty pews. 
 
 But there will have to be radical changes be- 
 fore this is brought about. All the old teachers 
 such as I was will have to pass away. If the 
 ministers of to-day had to depend only on those 
 that attend the churches regularly for their sal- 
 aries, they would have to beg or starve. Those 
 that subscribe the most toward their salaries 
 think this justifies them in staying at home or 
 going to some place that interests them more. I 
 used to condemn such as these very bitterly. But 
 I see plainly now I was mistaken. 
 
 The man who stands in the pulpit to-day must 
 be progressive and not teach the things Moses 
 taught. The rules of the various churches should 
 be changed according to the times. The people 
 of to-day ought not to be expected to live up to 
 the rules of the Methodist church. Those min- 
 
130 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 isters who want to change the church so that it 
 will not tend to make hypocrites of members who 
 wish to enjoy innocent pleasures that the church 
 has forbidden ought to be encouraged and put to 
 the front. The church should teach how to live, 
 instead of how to die. If people live right death 
 need have no terrors for them. Death is only a 
 very short experience and the awakening here is 
 glorious. I have investigated all religious faiths 
 and creeds and I can see grave mistakes in them 
 all. I fear I, too, must admit that it is better to 
 have none than to depend on church or faith to 
 bring one into happiness here. The golden rule 
 is better than all the rules and professions of 
 faith or forms of worship of all the churches. 
 
CHAPTER XLIV 
 
 A SPIRIT SIGNAL 
 
 NOT far from a distant city 
 On a warm, bright summer night, 
 A train was thundering loudly 
 With all its power and might. 
 
 The engineer was sleepy; 
 
 His run was a long, hard test. 
 That strained his nerve-tired body. 
 
 He was longing for his rest. 
 
 In a home quite near the railroad 
 
 A child quite sleepless lay; 
 Full of unrest, she wondered 
 
 If she couldn't go out and play. 
 
 Perhaps she'd find her mamma, 
 But mamma, nurse said, was dead, 
 
 And would come no more to kiss her 
 As she lay in her little bed. 
 
 She stepped out of bed so softly 
 And wandered out in the night. 
 
 The cool, clear air inspired her; 
 She ran with all her might. 
 
 Until she reached the railroad 
 
 And saw the shining track. 
 She thought, when she was rested, 
 
 She'd quickly hurry back. 
 
132 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 But her little feet were weary, 
 She soon fell sound asleep. 
 
 Her curly head was lying 
 
 Where the train so soon would creep. 
 
 "What's that red light a-gleaming?" 
 Thought the engineer, amazed. 
 
 "The road just here is straightest, 
 I must, indeed, be crazed." 
 
 Should he reject the signal? 
 
 He knew his train was late. 
 With human lives in keeping, 
 
 He dared not risk their fate. 
 
 He saw a white-robed woman 
 With the signal in her hand; 
 
 With a shriek of the engine 's whistle. 
 Train stopped at its command. 
 
 Frantic, they all were searching. 
 
 The father, in fear and pain, 
 Hurried down to the railroad 
 
 To see what had stopped the train. 
 
 ' ' I went to find my mamma. 
 And she com'd," was all she'd say. 
 
 The father clasped her closely 
 And gratefully did pray. 
 
 ' ' Sir, where is the dark-haired lady, 
 With the signal in her hand? 
 
 Why didn't she take the darling? 
 I do not understand." 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 133 
 
 Eeplied the father, tremblingly, 
 So stunned he scarce could speak, 
 
 "It was my baby's mamma, 
 She died but just last week." 
 
 Among the many passengers 
 
 But few would ever guess 
 That 'twas the angel mother 
 
 That flagged the night express. 
 
CHAPTER XLV 
 
 WOULD you care to hear the experience of one 
 of a class of men who have caused more 
 suffering, both on earth and here in spirit, than 
 any others'? They are men who have helped to 
 fill the penitentiaries, the insane and orphan asy- 
 lums, the poorhouse and the potter's field. I am 
 speaking of the saloonkeeper — the man that hands 
 over the bar the poison that stains men's souls. I 
 lived when on earth in the city of Joliet. Many 
 living there to-day would recognize me if I would 
 give my name. I kept what was considered a 
 decent place. I would not sell to a man who was 
 already drunk, but I did what I now know to be 
 worse. I started him by selling him drinks when 
 he was in his right mind and refused when he 
 was no longer responsible. He then went to 
 worse places, where he would very often be robbed 
 of what money he had when he left my place. 
 
 If the saloonkeepers were made to take care of 
 their poor victims there are few that would stay in 
 the business. They allow their victims to stay in 
 their places only as long as they have money to 
 spend ; then, when they are helpless, they put them 
 out on the streets, often on cold nights, either to 
 freeze or to go home to their families, where they 
 are liable to commit murder before the effects of 
 the accursed liquor are cleared from their brain. 
 
 Picture my agony of remorse if you can when 
 I had to look on all this. Many men patronized 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 135 
 
 my saloon who, I supposed, had plenty of 
 money and provided well for their families, be- 
 cause they paid me much money and paid 
 promptly. But when I came here I could see 
 them as they were. I could look into their homes 
 and see the poverty existing there. I could see 
 many frail, brave little women, bending over the 
 washtub to get the very necessaries of life for 
 themselves and their little ones, could see the sor- 
 row it caused, the bitter tears shed for husbands 
 and fathers, the suffering of little, innocent chil- 
 dren, crying for something to eat, while the means 
 to procure it were handed over the bar. Oh, God ! 
 Could any torture be greater? I am not over- 
 drawing the picture. How often I have looked on 
 just such scenes of suffering since I have entered 
 this life. The Bible hell is very mild in compari- 
 son to my agony of remorse. If I were to live 
 on earth in flesh again, how gladly I would take up 
 the pick and shovel to earn my daily bread. Had 
 I done this I would not have had to suffer as I 
 have. Yet I know and realize that I have got jus- 
 tice, for here justice reigns supreme. 
 
 We are not the only ones in spirit life to suffer 
 for the liquor traflfic. Let us reflect a moment, and 
 see where the responsibility really lies. The brew- 
 ers are in the same class as are we, and share, I 
 think, a greater responsibility. We can go farther, 
 The blame must rest where it properly belongs, 
 with the government for allowing it to be manu- 
 factured. Then, my friends, can you not see that 
 a part of the blame rests with yourselves as vot- 
 ers and makers of the laws? You see that the 
 man that stands behind the bar is not alone re- 
 
136 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 sponsible, but suffers only for his share in the dis- 
 tribution of the poison. I used to think as long 
 as it was a legitimate business I had a right to 
 keep a saloon, as my not doing so would not les- 
 sen the traffic. I might as well have my share of 
 the proceeds. Well, so I had. It is for the gov- 
 ernment to put a stop to its manufacture and for 
 each individual voter to see that it does. Until 
 this is done it will continue to be your country's 
 curse. Each individual who has a right to vote 
 is responsible for conditions as they exist. Yet 
 this does not relieve the saloonkeeper, for each 
 must suffer for his own share. 
 
 If this should be read by any of my brothers in 
 the business, that is a curse to every civilized 
 country, my advice is to lay aside the white apron, 
 which is a badge of dishonor, and trust to Provi- 
 dence to give you a business that will be honor- 
 able and will not cause you the suffering that I 
 have had to endure. It is no use to say you could 
 do nothing else, for there is no greater truth than 
 "where there's a will there's a way." Dire want 
 is needless in your land of plenty. If you have 
 health, strength, ambition and will power to do 
 and dare, you cannot help but be successful in any 
 honorable business. I want to tell you some of the 
 things I have learned here. Through suffering 
 we are purified. We get our education through 
 actual experience. It matters little the length of 
 time we have been here as you count it on earth. 
 It is our ability and worthiness that benefit us. 
 In the twinkling of an eye some can learn what the 
 noted and educated of your earth may be years 
 after they get here in finding out by patient study 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 137 
 
 and careful research. We are led by various paths 
 through our earth existence, and are still led, when 
 we come here, by the unseen power to learn what 
 is for our own good. When I entered this world I 
 found myself on the earth plane or astral plane, 
 where I remained a long time, it seemed to me 
 then, looking on the havoc my business had 
 wrought. I thought there were none who re- 
 quired greater atonement or remorse and sorrow 
 for their sins than did such as I. But I am in a 
 position now, and have been for some time, to see 
 others as I saw myself. 
 
 The saloonkeeper is not alone, by any means. 
 You, too, will some day see people whom it will 
 surprise you very much to see suffering the same 
 agony of regret and remorse as did I for various 
 sins of their own that they were able to keep hid 
 while on earth, but could not here. I have visited 
 various churches of earth and there have seen 
 with clear sight many things. I have seen people 
 kneeling in churches saying prayers by the yard 
 that were written out for them to repeat. What 
 good can this do them? I have seen priests and 
 preachers standing before large audiences teach- 
 ing the way of salvation, with their own hearts as 
 black as night. I have seen men and women kneel- 
 ing in the amen corner of various churches, with 
 long, pious faces, who would frequent the bar- 
 rooms and worse resorts under cover of night by 
 secret passages, known only to themselves. I have 
 visited trumpet and investigating circles where 
 the odor of liquor was very apparent and yet they 
 expected to get truth from the true. I know abso- 
 lutely that you cannot do this, for like attracts 
 
138 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 like. Many spirits that have not progressed out 
 of the earth conditions often mislead without in- 
 tending to do so. They can only tell you of what 
 they themselves have learned and many are lower 
 in the scale of progress than yourselves. Death 
 itself is only a change of garments. Because you 
 may not be able to understand all phenomena is 
 no reason why it may not be true. "You may be 
 in the right church, but in the wrong pew," is a 
 slang phrase, but contains much of truth. While 
 immortality is a truth, while spirit return is a 
 truth, while "the door of reformation is never 
 closed to any human soul, either here or here- 
 after," is a truth, yet from this broad highway 
 there are many winding paths that lead one won- 
 dering. I have a friend on earth with whom I 
 have been experimenting for some time. I can 
 go to her in her home and hypnotize or entrance 
 her as some can do on the earth plane. When I 
 get her under my influence I can tell her she is in 
 Egypt, and describe some place I myself have 
 visited, and she will get the impressions so accu- 
 rately that she believes that her spirit is actually 
 there, which is a mistake. Many make this mis- 
 take. All so-called soul flights are made in the 
 same manner. While true descriptions are given, 
 it is done by guides, who can go and come at will 
 in an instant of time and who are not hampered 
 by their earthly bodies. While a sensitive person 
 can sometimes see his own physical body, when 
 in an entranced or hypnotized state, he cannot 
 leave his body until freed by death. Some sen- 
 sitives think they can go to different realms in the 
 spirit world also and see the homes of beauty and 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 139 
 
 grandeur there, but it is only pictured to them by 
 their own spirit friends. Yet it serves the same 
 purpose. Guides can also go to different places 
 and represent the ones through whom they work. 
 They can imitate their voice through a trumpet so 
 genuinely that those hearing it are deceived. I 
 do not know what good can be accomplished by 
 this unless it is done to show what the wonderful 
 power of thought can accomplish, for the ones that 
 are represented must send their thoughts there 
 for the guide to express to do this. Yet it leads 
 many in one of the winding paths. 
 
 Some of your workers claim they can go in 
 spirit to the astral plane to help some spirit in 
 darkness there. True, many on earth can help 
 spirits here, but the spirits are taken to them for 
 their magnetic influence; they do not go to the 
 spirits. None who have ever experienced these 
 things will believe them until they come here. 
 Their experience is so vivid and genuine and they 
 can remember it so clearly that they are honest 
 and sincere in believing and stating that they actu- 
 ally leave their bodies. 
 
 How often do you have dreams that are so much 
 like actual experiences that you can scarcely, after 
 awakening, realize that you are not at the certain 
 place of your dream. Yet it takes only a few 
 moments to dream what would take days to go 
 through by actual experience. It is very easy 
 for the guide to picture any place to your con- 
 sciousness that he wishes by impression. This is 
 another winding path that many are traveling. 
 
 Remembrance of various reincarnations is com- 
 mon. This is caused by guides or loved ones who 
 
140 FROM THE LAND O'THB LEAL 
 
 are drawn to you by attraction, trying to tell you 
 by impression, of their own lives, who they were 
 and where they lived when on earth. You may 
 get it very truly and clearly, yet it is their own 
 experience and never yours. You live on the earth 
 in flesh and blood but once and can never pass 
 through that way again. 
 
 I have written this by request and make no apol- 
 ogies if my views of life, as I have found it, do 
 not appeal to your reason. What I have told you 
 will perhaps be criticized, as it is in opposition to 
 many of your scholars and writers on your side 
 of life. We were told to give our experiences in 
 our own way. This I have done, and I thank you. 
 
CHAPTER XLVI 
 
 ON earth I was a ' ' sister, ' ' 
 And went from door to door; 
 A member of the order 
 
 Of "Little Sisters of the Poor." 
 
 As a girl I was gay and joyous, 
 My parents thought me wild ; 
 
 So in a convent placed me, 
 I was their only child. 
 
 I could have cursed them for it 
 Before my spirit was cowed. 
 
 At last as a penitent 
 Before the Cross I bowed. 
 
 No day did I have gladness, 
 Nor girlhood's pleasures see. 
 
 Yet sin I had never committed. 
 From evil my heart was free. 
 
 I longed for a home and children. 
 
 I was starving just to hear 
 The lips of a babe say mother, 
 
 And whisper its love in my ear. 
 
 Nature was strangled within me 
 By men who taught, as a whole. 
 
 We must torment the body 
 For the lasting good of the soul. 
 
142 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 Just live a life that's loving. 
 
 Of no angry god have fear. 
 Partake of innocent pleasures 
 
 While you are living here. 
 
 After many years here in this world of spirit 
 that no pen can portray, I am enabled to tell the 
 earthly friends the reason for my unhappiness. I 
 have found it was a needed lesson for me to learn 
 in order to fit myself for a broader and more use- 
 ful life here and enable me to teach others. My 
 object is to give my own experience and all the 
 information I can about life here and where it is 
 located. That heaven is a condition, dear friends, 
 is true; if you are happy you realize heaven. 
 Everything that has life has spirit. The material 
 of all things is only the shell for the indwelling 
 of spirit to manifest, first on earth for growth 
 and experience, then to be cast aside for a higher 
 and more beautiful life located all about you, as 
 is the material world. You see a beautiful rose 
 and few things can be lovelier. Here we have 
 the spirit of the rose more beautiful still, for it 
 is perfect and will never fade or wither. So it is 
 with all nature. We cannot see the material of 
 earth, but only the real or spiritual part. You 
 cannot see the spiritual unless you develop this, 
 and then you see with your own spiritual vision 
 and not with the material. This faculty all pos- 
 sess, but is developed in but few. The American 
 Indians in their native state understood this bet- 
 ter than any others, but are fast losing the power 
 to converse with nature as they become civilized 
 (so-called). All possess a spiritual counterpart 
 
PROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 143 
 
 that never grows old and which permeates and 
 surrounds the body. You often feel a cold sensa- 
 tion up and down your spine that causes you to 
 shudder. This is spirit decarnate touching spirit 
 incarnate. A medium is used by spirits to con- 
 vey their knowledge to others who have not de- 
 veloped sufficiently to be thus used themselves. 
 I have found here all the happiness that I missed 
 on earth. 
 
 In a beautiful home in the city of Washington 
 I was happy, as an only child with kind parents 
 can be. But my parents were very religious and 
 thought I was too wild. I was sixteen years of age 
 and full of ambition and fun. There was no wick- 
 edness in my nature. But my parents were 
 wealthy and the Church of Rome desired their 
 money. Certain officials set about trying to ob- 
 tain it. Through designing priests and sisters — 
 not all are like these — they made my parents be- 
 lieve that the only way to keep their daughter 
 from being lost was to persuade her to become a 
 nun, and I was placed in a convent. I rebelled 
 and caused them all kinds of trouble until I made 
 bitter enemies among them. I defied them as 
 long as I dared and my earthly body went into 
 the grave with scars of the lash upon it that I re- 
 ceived before I at last humbled myself and ac- 
 cepted my fate. I lived it a few short years. 
 
 But death released me early and I found I was 
 right — that the spark of the Infinite was within 
 and I needed no formality or sacrifice to be saved 
 — ^that everything saves itself. 
 
 I can now see with prophetic vision a new era 
 dawning for the whole world. Monarch rule, rum 
 
144 PROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 and a false religion have had their day, and in a 
 few years will be wiped from the face of the earth. 
 New teachers will come forth from all over the 
 world teaching nothing but the Grolden Rule, and 
 "Whatsoever a man soweth that also must he 
 reap" — that each must bear the responsibility of 
 every act of his life and that nothing can save 
 men but their own right thinking, right doing and 
 right living. This will save all souls from unhap- 
 piness and this is all there is to be saved from. 
 Hell is sorrow, pain and remorse for wrong doing 
 and heaven is joy, peace and contentment, which 
 are earned by well doing and which cannot be be- 
 stowed upon anyone. Earth life is a school of 
 instruction and should be realized and accepted 
 as such. It is wise to improve every opportimity 
 to learn while there, for knowledge is the only 
 thing you can bring with you into this life. 
 
 One needs just what one gets if he cannot over- 
 come the conditions, as in my own case. I am not 
 sorry now for the experience, for it taught me 
 more in my short earth life than I should have 
 gained had I lived the allotted time on earth. Then 
 I would have had to live in spirit perhaps hun- 
 dreds of years, as many do before they under- 
 stand self and their own part in nature's or God's 
 plans, for both are one. Do not live a life of self- 
 ishness and expect the Holy Mother to pray for 
 you and intercede for pardon for your sins and 
 set you free from them. You will find yourself 
 mistaken when you come here and understand. 
 Here, with the searchlight of truth turned upon 
 those of earth, it reveals you as you are. Great 
 would be your surprise could you see as we do. 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 145 
 
 There are on earth those who are living in such 
 poverty that they do not know where the next meal 
 is coming from, and look with envious eyes on 
 the rich merchant and banker riding around in 
 their limousines, yet how often are they living in 
 a hell that the poverty-stricken ones can know 
 nothing about. Oh ! let me impress just this sim- 
 ple message of right living upon you, that alone 
 includes all there is of good! 
 
CHAPTER XL VII 
 
 A DBEAM 
 
 1 DREAMED we built a temple; 
 On every stone was placed 
 A deed done by the giver, 
 Which ne 'er oould be effaced. 
 
 Grood deeds were writ in golden 
 And shone with brilliance bright ; 
 
 Bad deeds in letters scarlet, 
 Both seen by day and night. 
 
 You'd think great deeds were written 
 
 And awful crimes you'd see; 
 But no ; they were the smallest — 
 
 As done by you and me. 
 
 We saw in golden letters, 
 
 Recorded near the door, 
 A name of one — a giver 
 
 From out his scanty store. 
 
 And here was shown in scarlet, 
 
 In a conspicuous place, 
 The name of one who cheated, 
 
 And for shame should hide his face. 
 
 Another in scarlet letters, 
 
 That ne'er could be erased. 
 Was one who spread a falsehood 
 
 Which caused a foul disgrace. 
 
 And here in glitt'ring letters, 
 
 Like diamonds all aglow, 
 Was one who fed the birdlings 
 
 When the ground was covered with snow. 
 
CHAPTEE XLVIII 
 
 HIS LAST MESSAGE 
 
 A FEW years ago two men were riding 
 along in an automobile near the city of Mem- 
 phis. It was a beautiful summer day and the 
 sun was shining brightly. One of the men no- 
 ticed a man lying under the hedge near the road- 
 side with the sun shining directly in his upturned 
 face. They stopped their car and got out to in- 
 vestigate. The man was dead. He was old and 
 gray and poorly clad, with dissipation plainly 
 written in every feature, but with a smile on his 
 upturned face, as though his last vision on earth 
 had been pleasant. One of the men stayed by the 
 body while the other went to a beautiful old col- 
 onial home called The Beeches, near by, to tele- 
 phone the coroner. 
 
 "Give me 287, please. This the coroner! 
 There's a stiff lying out here under the hedge 
 near The Beeches. Send a wagon out at once. 
 No, no marks of violence. It is only an old vag 
 who has cashed in. My name? It doesn't matter. 
 A friend and I were passing in an automobile and 
 discovered him. Good by." Thinking they had 
 lost enough time from their pleasure trip, they 
 got into their machine and rode away. In a short 
 time the coroner arrived, placed the body in the 
 wagon and took it to the morgue for identifica- 
 tion. On examining the clothing the coroner was 
 surprised to see that the undergarments were neat 
 and clean, although the outer clothing was ragged 
 
148 FROM THE LAND O'THB LEAL 
 
 and dirty. Pinned to the undershirt was a cotton 
 tobacco bag and inside this a roll of paper and a 
 pencil. The coroner wonderingly unrolled the 
 paper and read the following : 
 
 DOWN AND OUT 
 
 Whoever finds this paper 
 
 A story it will tell 
 Of one who tasted deeply 
 
 Of heaven and of hell. 
 
 At home with a loving mother 
 My boyhood days were passed; 
 
 And often I was wishing 
 They evermore could last. 
 
 I sometimes sat with pistol 
 Pressed to my breast — and then, 
 
 "Brace up, Johnnie; I'm watching; 
 Don't do that thing again." 
 
 I tried to fight more bravely 
 The demons that wanted rum; 
 
 But, oh! how weak the spirit. 
 Naught was I but a whisky bum. 
 
 At night I heard my mother 
 
 And felt her unseen hand. 
 This filled me full of wonder, 
 
 I could not understand. 
 
 I thought death all things ended. 
 
 But fain had passed me by, 
 Yet each day found me wishing 
 
 I could lay me down and die. 
 
FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 149 
 
 Last night was sad and weary, 
 To-night I am young and gay. 
 
 Mother is standing by me 
 And bids me this to say : 
 
 "You may be down, my Johnnie, 
 
 With not a friend on earth. 
 Mother has never left you 
 
 Since the day she gave you birth. 
 
 "You've been my joy and pride, dear. 
 
 For in your deepest heart 
 Not one have you wronged ever, 
 
 But oft have given a start. 
 
 ' ' Oft many have prayed for you 
 To whom you've lent a hand. 
 
 All this your mother has known, 
 A mother can xmderstand. 
 
 "I come to-night to guide you 
 
 As led by nature's plans, 
 Out in the great eternal 
 
 To a world not made with hands. ' ' 
 
 This message I leave to the finder and sign my- 
 self— J. L. 
 
 The coroner dropped the paper as though it had 
 burned his fingers. On looking again closely into 
 the face of the corpse he exclaimed, "My God! 
 Johnnie Lowe! who had the distinction of be- 
 ing the youngest soldier who marched with Sher- 
 man to the sea, a hero of many battles and at 
 one time the idol of this city. He was bom in his 
 
150 PROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 
 
 father's beautiful home, The Beeches, but dis- 
 appeared many years ago and was never heard of 
 again. Surely his mother was the guardian angel 
 who guided his footsteps back to his old home to 
 die. No potter's field for you, John Lowe, but a 
 few of your old friends shall follow you to the 
 cemetery, and this old body that contained the 
 spirit of a man and a brave soldier shall rest in 
 the grass-grown plot by the side of your father 
 and mother and where a marble shaft now stands 
 with a space left upon it for their only child. 
 
CHAPTER XL IX 
 
 MESSAGE FROM THE GUIDE 
 
 I THE guide, who formed the "Washington 
 ) Band of Spirits ' ' for the purpose of bringing 
 various spirits here to give their experiences 
 which we thought would prove interesting, wish 
 to say we are well pleased with the contents of 
 this little volume. It contains the true experiences 
 of these spirits. Their communicating in this 
 manner has helped many of them, and we hope 
 it may be the means of helping many on earth to 
 see the necessity of living the best they can under 
 all circumstances. If you do this you need not 
 fear death. You will come into your own especial 
 place here that no other but yourself can fill. It 
 all rests with you. The people here who are in- 
 terested in you can do nothing unless you make 
 the way possible and you can all do this if you 
 wish. All people on earth are more or less me- 
 diumistic; some in one phase, some in another. 
 All spirits are the same living, loving individuals 
 they were on earth. All desire to make themselves 
 known to their friends on earth, but if those 
 friends co-operate the work is made more easy 
 and certain. Happiness on the spirit side is high- 
 est and soonest found when life on earth has been 
 most unselfish and most devoted to what is noble 
 and true. Some in spirit life make no advance- 
 ment for years simply because no, or but little, 
 
152 FROM THE LAND O'THB LEAL 
 
 advancement towards higher living was made on 
 earth. If the experiences given in the preceding 
 pages cause even a few to realize how much the 
 condition of these entering the future world de- 
 pends upon the habits formed and the kind of life 
 lived on earth, the "Washington Band" will feel 
 well repaid for its efforts. 
 
 Our duty to our loved ones, 
 
 To home and native land, 
 Is the secret of right living, 
 
 That each can understand. 
 
 Then all will live as brothers. 
 Each hand will join with hand; 
 
 Then all will stand united 
 In this broad and beauteous land. 
 
 True faith is found in doing right, 
 
 In the Golden Eule it lies ; 
 It lifts the soul to a higher life. 
 
 To a bliss above the skies.