Class 
 Book.. 
 
 4 : 
 
 Copyright^* 
 
 CQEffilGHT DEPOSED 
 

LETTERS FROM ROT, OR 
 THE SPIRIT VOICE 
 
 BY 
 
 LEON H. STEVENS 
 
 BEING A SERIES OF MESSAGES RECEIVED 
 DURING DAILY COMMUNICATION WITH 
 LEROY S. STEVENS, WHO PASSED TO 
 SPIRIT LIFE ON MARCH THIRTIETH, 1916 
 
 TfRjSTOPjlE^ 
 
 PUBLISHING 
 HOUSE 
 
 BOSTON 
 
.Si 
 
 Copyright, igi7 by 
 The Christopher Publishing House 
 
 / 
 
 o*. 
 
 NOV -3 1917 
 ©CU476919 
 
LNTKODUCTION. 
 
 Fechner, in his wonderful little vol- 
 ume, "The Little Book of Life After 
 Death," divides life into three periods. 
 The first, previous to birth, being of 
 complete rest, darkness and develop- 
 ment; the second, between birth and 
 death being alternate light and dark- 
 ness, activity and repose ; the third, fol- 
 lowing death (in reality the second 
 birth) being continuous activity and 
 Eternal light. 
 
 What greater comfort could you, who 
 have seen death's gates close, hiding 
 from your view the ones you love, desire 
 than the knowledge that in the great 
 plan of the Universe the Creator has 
 made it possible for mortal minds to 
 render themselves receptive to the in- 
 fluence of those who have entered the 
 Celestial life. 
 
 "What our experience has been, yours 
 may be, and to this end this record is 
 placed before you, not as a literary 
 effort, but a plain and truthful state- 
 ment of actual experiences; of daily 
 
6 INTRODUCTION 
 
 communications received by us, through 
 the simple method of the Ouija board. 
 
 We attribute the success attending 
 our efforts to the extreme care taken to 
 preserve at each sitting perfect har- 
 mony, and a Spiritual atmosphere. It 
 has been proven that Scripture reading 
 is a very necessary item, and good mu- 
 sic is also a great help in bringing the 
 best influences. 
 
 While, as stated above, this is a true 
 record, it is by no means complete, 
 because there have been innumerable 
 messages received which would have no 
 interest for the public, concerning 
 simply family affairs. Enough person- 
 al material, however, has been used to 
 prove that our loved ones and friends 
 on the other side take as much interest 
 in our daily affairs as they could while 
 in the body, and perhaps more. 
 
 Exceptions may be taken to parts of 
 the record, which may seem light, and 
 perhaps of a trifling nature, but our 
 purpose in giving them, in addition to 
 the Spiritual Truths and messages, is 
 that stated in the foregoing paragraph. 
 
 Just a few words to make the situa- 
 tion clear concerning the family. Fa- 
 ther, mother and older brother in earth 
 
INTRODUCTION ( 
 
 life; Leroy, the younger brother, who 
 lias had the direct charge of giving the 
 messages from Spirit life, and younger 
 sister, in Spirit. 
 
 Leroy was twenty years and ten 
 months old last March, when he was 
 suddenly taken. The little sister had 
 passed on at birth, and is now between 
 thirteen and fourteen years old. 
 
 Regarding those who may read these 
 pages, doubting that it is possible to 
 receive such accurate messages, even 
 though they do acknowledge belief in 
 the Life beyond the grave — we had to 
 be convinced, just the same as anyone 
 else, and if they cannot find something 
 which removes their doubt, it will not 
 be our fault, because we shall try to in- 
 clude everything which could in any 
 way help to convince them. 
 
 We did not think of putting the mes- 
 sages in book form, until Leroy told us 
 to do so, as he said it was the only way 
 he could reach some people. We are 
 very glad, however, to do our little part 
 in taking away the fear of death, and 
 putting in its place the hope of a far 
 greater life to come. 
 
 Where names have been given, we 
 have in most cases used initials, but if 
 
8 INTRODUCTION 
 
 they are recognized, we will be very 
 glad to give further information to 
 those concerned, as the material which 
 is too personal has been omitted, for 
 obvious reasons. 
 
LETTEBS FKOM EOY. 
 
 On March 30th, 1916, at 7 :30 P. M., 
 Leroy Sylvan Stevens passed to the 
 larger life. At that time we were liv- 
 ing in Taunton, hut our plans had heen 
 laid to move to Boston shortly. We 
 had arranged the week before, to pass 
 the papers for the purchase of a house 
 in Mattapan, near Boston, Mass. Boy 
 had been in to see the house on the Sun- 
 day before he was taken, and had pick- 
 ed out his room. Our reasons for men- 
 tioning this house will be seen later on 
 in the record. 
 
 Our plans were then given up, and, 
 being anxious to get away from our 
 present surroundings, we hurriedly 
 moved to a house in Dorchester, Mass. 
 Although a good location, it proved to 
 be very noisy, day and night, which did 
 not take away any of our homesickness, 
 and "Lost" feeling. 
 
 Mother had always been a firm be- 
 liever in the close linking together of 
 the two lives, and had talked some with 
 Roy on the subject. The father and 
 
10 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 older brother, while not doubting, still 
 did not take up the matter with as much 
 interest, until having such good cause 
 to do so. 
 
 It was on April 13th, that mother re- 
 ceived her first message, that is, the 
 first of which she was sure. That was, 
 for her to go to Melrose Cemetery, at 
 Brockton, Mass., where our lot is lo- 
 cated, instead of to Boston, as she had 
 planned. This was the first time she 
 had dared go there since the funeral, 
 not being sure of herself. While there, 
 we met the man of whom we later 
 bought the stone for the grave, and 
 whom, it was later on found, was the 
 one with whom Boy wanted us to deal. 
 
 It was nearly the last of April, when 
 we decided to get a Ouija board, to try 
 and find out if it were possible to com- 
 municate with any one on the other 
 side, through that means. 
 
 On April 28th, early in the evening, 
 we sat down quietly, and waited. There 
 was no sign whatever for about ^ve 
 minutes, when, very slowly, the small 
 table started to move. In a moment or 
 two, the words "Are you happy? I am." 
 had been spelled. 
 
 We hardly dared ask the next ques- 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 11 
 
 tion, but, after doing so, as to whom it 
 was, very slowly came tlie answer 
 "Roy." 
 
 That was enough. We ourselves were 
 satisfied, but it remained for the mes- 
 sages received daily since that time to 
 add proof upon proof for those who 
 might not believe. Of course such a 
 sudden and startling discovery un- 
 nerved the mother, and the next mes- 
 sage was "Please do not cry." After 
 this, the board commenced to move fast- 
 er, but for a few moments there came 
 nothing but a jumble of letters. Sud- 
 denly it seemed to get straightened out, 
 then came, "Later I will give more." 
 A favorite slang expression of his was 
 "Xuf Ced." He closed the evening's 
 sitting with "I am O K. Xuf cecl. Good 
 bye." 
 
 The next morning, upon sitting down, 
 the question was asked, "Where shall 
 we get flowers for Melrose?" The an- 
 swer came "E A X." This was evident- 
 ly an abbreviation for Eandolph. 
 
 We did as directed, and found a flo- 
 rist there, unknown to us, without 
 whom we would have had considerable 
 difficulty in getting flowers to the ceme- 
 
12 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 tery, because it was rather out of our 
 way from where we then lived. 
 
 This same morning, he said, "Nurse 
 was O K." Which was very true. Ques- 
 tion — Did you know you were going? 
 Answer — "Tried to raise five times." 
 This was noted at the time he was lying 
 unconscious, when it was thought he 
 was going to have convulsions. 
 
 That evening, sitting at 7:45 P. M., 
 the question was asked, "Is anyone 
 helping you to run this board?" Ans. 
 "Uncle Ed a lot. I do part." 
 
 Ed is his uncle, on his mother's side. 
 
 Question by mother. Do you like 
 our room, Koy? Ans. "Pretty slick, 
 yes." This was also a pet expression 
 of his. 
 
 Sunday afternoon, April 30th. The 
 message came — "Boy Sutton. Try 6." 
 This was found to mean that Eoy had 
 gone to Sutton, N. H., where we have 
 relatives and friends, and to try again 
 at six o'clock. 
 
 Sitting at 6 P. M. Father asked a 
 mental question, which was answered 
 "Yes." This is one of the simplest ways 
 of proving to anyone who doubts. Let 
 him ask any question, having the same 
 clearly in his mind, and it will be an- 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 13 
 
 swered correctly on the board. No 
 matter what it is, it has never failed us 
 vet. To those who may try to explain 
 it by tk mind reading", etc., we have 
 ample proof to the contrary, as will be 
 seen later on. 
 
 To get back to the messages. The 
 mental question father asked was, as 
 he afterwards told us, "Are you happy 
 where you are?" (The answer to the 
 question was given three times, for em- 
 phasis.) 
 
 Xext, he was evidently trying to say 
 something about "Judea," which I aft- 
 erwards found was the subject of a ser- 
 mon that I had intended to hear that 
 same night, but gave it up. 
 
 May 1st, very little was given, and 
 after a short session he said, "Sit again 
 tomorrow at 7." 
 
 May 2. The first message was, "You 
 three tell others." Then — "Aunt G. . . 
 will tell you something tomorrow." 
 This referred to something very inter- 
 esting concerning another relative of 
 the family. Not knowing of this mes- 
 sage at the time, she did just as he said 
 she would. Question — Where have 
 you been today? Ans. "Taunton." 
 Question — Whom did you see particu- 
 
14 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 larly? Ans. "Mr. T . . . " Question. Did 
 he realize it? Ans. "I think so." 
 The dates which are missing are those 
 on which there was simply something 
 given of personal interest to the family. 
 
 May 4th. "Sister, she's pretty. You 
 watch for messages from us any time." 
 
 Q. How do you like that life as com- 
 pared to ours? 
 
 Ans. "Not to be mentioned." (Used 
 as an idiomatic phrase). 
 
 May 5th. Eeference was made to 
 the passing of time, and the message 
 came, "Time is not in this life." 
 
 Q. How about people in this war? 
 Ans. "Sad. You ought to see." 
 
 May 6th. "Justice must rule." At 
 this point we were talking about Mr. 
 G. . . S..., the Choirmaster of the 
 Church where Roy belonged, who was 
 taken just seven weeks before Roy. 
 Mrs. Stevens remarked that she was 
 afraid that he might have taken Roy, 
 because they were such good friends. 
 The message came, "No, he did not, he 
 only helped others." 
 
 Q. Have you any special Church you 
 would like to have me attend? 
 
 A. "We will show you. You will 
 meet Roy, Fred, and Will there." 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 15 
 
 I must get aliead of my story a little 
 here, and say that the first person I met 
 at the Church where I am now going, 
 was the Fred referred to, now a neigh- 
 bor of ours, who, the first day he knew 
 me invited me to join the choir, to which 
 he belonged, at this Church in M. . . 
 I am not well acquainted there yet, and 
 do not know the others. 
 
 Q. Have you f oimd that little boy who 
 lived on C. . . St., and was shot last 
 winter? Ans. "Yes. I am with him 
 sometimes." "I am going to wake folks 
 up." 
 
 May 7th. (From now on he often 
 opens the session with some verse of 
 Scripture.) "Search the Scriptures. 
 'What I tell ye in darkness, that speak 
 ye in the light.' " 
 
 Q. I should like to know what your 
 life is like. 
 
 Ans. "Something like vours, much 
 better." 
 
 Q. Are there any animals in your 
 life? Ans. "All Life." "D. . . is here." 
 Q. What D. . ? Ans. "D. . E. ." (Nam- 
 ing a man connected with the family on 
 the mother's side, some years ago.) 
 
 Q. Eoy, does Billy (the cat) know 
 when you are around? Ans. "A lot." 
 
16 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 "Every time you sit you will find it 
 clearer." 
 
 Q. How do you learn to run the 
 board? Ans. "Uncle Ed. . ." 
 
 May 9th. "You will learn great 
 Truths if you try for them. Drop mate- 
 rial things when you try this board. 
 There will be strange happenings. I 
 have tried to tell you before. Ma has 
 known, but she did not know what they 
 meant. W. . . is one of the best ones 
 in it. Truth must win. By and by you 
 will see why. Great Powers are at 
 work. It is not one person. It is for 
 God." 
 
 "P . . . misses me. I try to make him 
 know." 
 
 Q. Shall I tell him? Ans. "Yes, you 
 will, but do not try to hurry things." 
 I was not instructed to tell him, until 
 March 18, 1917. 
 
 May 10th. "This is great. I have 
 something new all the time." 
 
 Q. Have you seen Miss P . . . yet? 
 Ans. "She is taking care of little boys." 
 
 "Young S . . . is around his home a 
 lot." (Naming a young boy who was 
 killed by lightning.) 
 
 "We all want to be good natured. 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 17 
 
 Your life is the only one that has sor- 
 row." Q. Why? Ans. "Adam." 
 
 Please note the above bit of truth. 
 When one stops to think of it, it is a 
 tremendous amount of truth expressed 
 in one word. 
 
 "I go and come when I want to. If I 
 am not here you know how to call me. 
 I am glad you opened my eyes." (Eef er- 
 ring to his mother having made him ac- 
 quainted with this subject.) 
 
 "Uncle H . . . will brace up. He 
 hasn-t had any spirit for anything 
 since I changed." (I remember a pause 
 before this word, as if he was thinking 
 just what to say, it being the first time 
 mentioned. ) 
 
 Q. Are you going to Mrs. M. . .'s to- 
 night? (Xaming a medium.) Ans. "If 
 she doesn't know I am there it won't be 
 mv fault." 
 
 May 12th. "C. . . is with me a lot. 
 Railroad men, he says." 
 
 C . . . was a railroad conductor, killed 
 some ten or twelve years ago. Hoy had 
 worked on the railroad for about four 
 months before passing away, and was 
 much interested in railroad men and 
 happenings. 
 
18 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 Q. Do you have as good a time there 
 as here? Ans. "Clean and better." 
 
 "A dear Shaker lady is one of our 
 teachers. Aunt Sarah." 
 
 "Great, ma. I can do all I want to 
 now. People do queer things." 
 
 May 13th. Here he quotes Mrs. Stev- 
 en's father. "Have faith. All will be 
 made right. Faith, Hope, and Love. The 
 greatest of these is Love. You are go- 
 ing to see much. I am making it as 
 plain as you will let me. Watch. Stand 
 fast. You could deal with great things 
 for human beings. 
 
 "The Springtime of Eternal Youth. 
 Simple plain Quaker ideas were near- 
 est to our Father's of any." 
 
 "S. . . W. . .. He did not know for 
 some time that he was in this life." 
 Naming a boy he used to know who was 
 drowned in Taunton. 
 
 May 14th. "Taunton is nice today. 
 Was there this morning." Eeference 
 was made here to some pictures of him. 
 
 "They don't look like me. That was 
 not me. You all think death is such an 
 awful thing. It is Life." 
 
 May 15th. "I am glad ma is begin- 
 ning to see me as I am." 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 19 
 
 Q. How do you like this place where 
 we are living? 
 
 Aiis. "You will get something better 
 when we get ready." 
 
 Q. Move again, Roy? Ans. "When 
 Ave get ready you will be there before I 
 am. It's great. You have got to get 
 ready for business." 
 
 Q. What business? Ans. "King's. 
 Railroad makes a chap want to. 
 
 "You must take time for this every 
 day. There is much that would inter- 
 est you all in this life when you are 
 ready for it. 
 
 "It is all Love and Truth. Everyone 
 has got to bow his head to Truth and 
 Love. You can see why we are busy. 
 
 "I have got all you are ready for since 
 I came. 'If ye forgive man, even so will 
 God forgive you.' " 
 
 May 18th. "Don't forget that He 
 will give His angels charge over thee. 
 You know the rest. You can always 
 rely on our Father's word. You will 
 find yourselves leaning more and more 
 on Him. So 'Trust and Obey' " 
 
 "Do you find things changed, Leon? 
 I am with you when you want me. You 
 have double strength. Keep your 
 courage up. Better things coming. 
 
20 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 You'll be surprised." I surely have 
 been, many times in the past year. 
 
 Here we spoke of a Mrs. E . . . , who 
 passed away about four years ago. 
 
 "She is the one who told me where I 
 was. She is fine." 
 
 May 20th. " 'They that seek me early 
 shall find me.' Your life is the only 
 false one. So glad you can use this 
 board. Better than games. Takes the 
 poison out of the sting. (He used to be 
 very fond of sitting and playing games 
 at home.) You said, ma, that your 
 boys would be all right in May. We 
 are ! Just listen to us. We're messen- 
 gers. 'In the midst of life we are in 
 death.' This life is so much beyond 
 yours that you must try not to think of 
 me as being dead, ma. 
 
 "Try and think, not of the physical 
 but spirit. A change to real life that 
 everyone has to go through. Helen 
 Keller is not as blind as many folks 
 who have good eyes. I shall change or 
 grow right along. You must grow with 
 me or you will not prosper. Uncle E . . . 
 says he is going to church. (With 
 Leon. ) He says don't you laugh. You 
 take the ones who didn't know how they 
 looked from the inside. 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 21 
 
 "We have some fine persons to learn 
 of. It seems so good to do all we want 
 to and not get tired. 
 
 "The railroad men are many over 
 here. They are interested just the 
 same. J. K. K. is one fine soul." 
 
 May 22. Keference made to the pleas- 
 ures he has earned and can now enjoy 
 in that life. a A treat you can all have 
 when you get your work done, which is 
 not yet, you can see. I could do more 
 from this side. A . . . He says tell your 
 mother we helped show Koy up. You 
 do not need to feel sad about me. He 
 says I could not leave you because you 
 need me, and I do not want to." 
 
 May 24th. "There are no dead. All 
 is life. I should not have wanted to 
 leave them if I had known how they 
 felt. They would not have known if 
 they had not felt so bad before we 
 went." 
 
 This seems to refer to our friends be- 
 fore we moved to Boston. "Aunt An- 
 nie says you will have to learn patience. 
 She teaches it. There are many more 
 here than there, that you know, ma." 
 
 May 25th. " 'Forgive us our debts as 
 we forgive our debtors.' I try to make 
 you folks realize lots of times. It seems 
 
22 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 so easy. You make it harder than you 
 need to. 
 
 "Sunbeam is her name." Q. Sister? 
 Ans. "Yes." "She is with me most of 
 the time." 
 
 May 26th. "I am very happy and 
 want you to be. You will if you put 
 yourself out and let Spirit take posses- 
 sion. Were you surprised to hear of 
 it?" He referred to the passing away 
 of Eev. Dr. II . . , very suddenly. Q. He 
 must have felt something that Sunday? 
 Ans. "No more than I did. He felt 
 strange, but not unhappy." 
 
 This minister referred to gave a most 
 beautiful sermon the Sunday night 
 before he passed away, and as I remem- 
 ber it, was in an unusual mood that 
 Sunday night. 
 
 "Convince Mrs. W. . . if possible. 
 There is more I can tell later. Mr. S . . 
 is right in his glory now. So gentle and 
 grand." 
 
 Q. Can you tell us anything of his 
 work? Ans. "You ask me a great deal. 
 Teaching might answer partly." 
 
 Q. by Mrs. Stevens. Am I right in 
 my ideas of those things which come to 
 me? Ans. "I give them to you. It is 
 so wonderful, ma. You would be satis- 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 23 
 
 fied. Uncle Ed says you folks are 
 doing line. Edna is just the same. You 
 ought to see grandmas and grandpas. 
 Like children, so happy." 
 
 May 27th. "If people in earth life 
 would stop and do some thinking. Aunt 
 Sarah says that is the only way. You 
 have hope now, ma, because you know 
 it is me.'' 
 
 May 29th. "T.. B.. calls me Sun- 
 days. (Xaniing a man in New Hamp- 
 shire. ) That country is great now. 
 
 "You must keep calm. Just trust 
 Him." 
 
 Q. What is C. . . doing? Ans. "Busy 
 all the time. The old K.E. men are so 
 interested in E.R. men in your life. 
 Melrose looks fine. We have a fine place. 
 You are never alone, ma. G-o to Mrs. 
 R ? s developing circle." 
 
 June 2. "Uncle L . . says are you pre- 
 pared? You got it right this time, ma. 
 The spirit world will never fail you. 
 You have more faith in them than any 
 one else. Was in your office today, 
 dad. Gr. . . thinks you will get over 
 this. Xot if I can help it." 
 
 June 4th. "Just go right along, in 
 faith believing, and trust in God. It 
 may seem dark sometimes, but, when 
 
24 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 so, don't forget Spirit is there. 'And 
 they that worship Him must worship 
 Him in Spirit and in Truth.' 'They 
 that seek me early shall find me.' He 
 was all right, wasn't he, Leon?" (Kef er- 
 ring to a certain minister.) 
 
 "September 1. Aunt J... makes a 
 change." This came true, and she was 
 not told of this message until many 
 weeks afterward, that is, after she 
 made the change. 
 
 June 5th. "Capt B . . . says some- 
 times you shut us all out. Must keep 
 your courage up, all the time looking 
 for the good that we want to bring." 
 
 June 8th. "Great times for you, 
 Leon. You have got to be Leon and 
 Roy," 
 
 June 10th. "J... R... feels sober 
 every time he passes the house. Don't 
 see why. If he could see me now I think 
 his eyes would come open." 
 
 Q. Why do mediums so often have 
 Indian guides? 
 
 Ans. "They are most natural." 
 
 "Don't lean on anybody. Stand on 
 your own feet. Thinking never hurt 
 anyone yet. Talking can. Sunbeam 
 is around you all the time, ma." Q. 
 Whom does she resemble? Ans. "Ma." 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 25 
 
 Q. Dark or light liair? Ans. "Brown. 
 She made me tell B . . about her. (Three 
 nights before he passed over.) Some 
 day you must tell them all the things I 
 have told you. You want to hurry and 
 get ready to come. You must find out 
 things for yourself. You have got 
 enough to help you listen." 
 
 June 12th. "I am glad I made you 
 realize who Robert is. He is one of the 
 finest. I am so glad you know Sun- 
 beam. When I have work you are not 
 a lone. " 
 
 June 13th. "Sunbeam is one of the 
 sweetest singers I ever heard. Gr. . . 
 says the sweetest. You know he told 
 me not to get my mind on girls, but he 
 is changing his ideas. She is so happy 
 she sings all day long. Tell them quiet- 
 ly I have not gone, when they give you a 
 chance. Aunt Sarah says it is time. 
 Glad, so glad, ma, you are my allies. 
 Sometime you will understand. Wake 
 these R.E. men and you will waken 
 great numbers.*' 
 
 June 14th. "Just be patient, trust- 
 ing in your Master, and you will see. 
 I want you all to do your best." 
 
 June 15th. "Accident, Broadway, 
 Taunton." This was a serious automo- 
 
26 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 bile accident, which he told us of at 
 almost exactly the time it happened. 
 "Ma, I tried to make you get up and 
 write." She had wakened the night 
 before with a beautiful story running 
 through her mind, but did not get up 
 because she thought she could remem- 
 ber it all right until morning, but it 
 was gone then. 
 
 June 16th. "You must read P . . G . . 
 till you can't forget. You forgot to- 
 day, ma." Because she had been rather 
 discouraged and down-hearted. 
 
 June 17th. "E. . . M. . . Saw him, 
 and made him think he saw me. This 
 is the life for me. ( This was a common 
 joking expression of his before he 
 passed over.) If I had been kept in 
 the body I should have been in an acci- 
 dent. I was glad when I got home, and 
 wanted all home. Aunt Nellie planned 
 the best for you. Was home all day to- 
 day. I can stay all day when I want to. 
 You have only to think of me to get me. 
 Wait till I get things as they are going 
 to be. Wish I could tell you about this. 
 I know it is about all you think about. 
 Trust and obey. You would not be 
 happy there now, ma. It was all 
 planned." This evidently refers to our 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 27 
 
 old hoine, from which we moved imme- 
 diately after his going. 
 
 June 18th. "Behind the clouds the 
 sun is shining. Into each life some rain 
 must fall. Now what do you think of 
 S...?" 
 
 An explanation is due on the fore- 
 going. It is a general custom for him 
 to give a great many names on the 
 board, and during the past week he had 
 given the name S . . . two or three times, 
 without comment on it. We our- 
 selves wondered if she were ill. On the 
 18th 1 went to Taunton, and on my way 
 to church noticed a wreath on the door 
 of the house where S . . . lived. They 
 being friends of ours I finally decided 
 that I had better make inquiries. I 
 went to the door, and found that the 
 mother of the family had passed away 
 very suddenly on the 16th, without ill- 
 ness. It seems that he is allowed to 
 tell us just so much, and no more. 
 
 "I could tell you some things, but 
 Aunt Sarah says not yet." 
 
 Q. Did I tell too much today? Ans. 
 "You told what we let you." "You can- 
 not keep G. . . and I quiet. You must 
 put people to thinking. Keep your 
 eyes and ears open. 'What I tell ye in 
 
28 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 darkness that speak ye in the light.' 
 Ma, what would we have done if you 
 had not known all that you know about 
 this." 
 
 June 19th. "'Mark that day lost 
 whose low descending sun sees from thy 
 hand no worthy action done.' Patsy." 
 This Patsy was a former employe of the 
 railroad, in a small position. The men 
 used to make considerable fun about 
 him, not realizing that he felt it keenly. 
 We have since found out what a change 
 has come over him, in the change from 
 physical to Spiritual life. When his 
 name was given, Mr. Stevens referred 
 to the attitude formerly taken toward 
 the man. "He has cried over that 
 man}^ times." This incident is given 
 because it has its lesson for all. We 
 never know what wonderful spirit may 
 be contained within a poor crippled or 
 weak body. 
 
 "We work together good, don't we?" 
 Q. Any way we can help? Ans. "Aunt 
 Sarah says, help yourselves is the best 
 way." "Keep busy as we want, and 
 you will be well." 
 
 June 21. "You're doing fine. That's 
 what they all say. Aunt M . . says you 
 ought to have done it years ago." 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 29 
 
 June 22. "Sunbeam helped you pick 
 out your clothes. Aunt N . . . sa} r s she 
 will not get any if we don't get them 
 now." This referred to a time some 
 few weeks before Koy passed away, 
 when Mrs. Stevens had her clothes 
 made ready for Spring. It was certain- 
 ly true. She would not have had the 
 courage to bother with them if it had 
 not already been attended to. 
 
 "I told you about F . . . You would 
 pity him. Lost in this life. He wants 
 to make amends as soon as possible. 
 Xo one wants him, he says. He might 
 have been a power for good, Aunt Sarah 
 tells me." 
 
 F . . . was an atheist, a very magnetic 
 personality and interesting speaker. 
 He passed away about a year ago, and 
 evidently must make amends for the 
 wrong which he did here in spreading 
 his belief. It is not our intention in 
 this work to favor any one belief, or to 
 speak against any, but one may gather 
 from the above the attitude taken on the 
 other side towards an atheist. 
 
 "Sunbeam is too cute. She is so dif- 
 ferent now, because she can make you 
 know. She makes us all laugh. Mr. 
 C . . . thinks she is the best ever." 
 
30 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 June 25th. "You are teaching kin- 
 dergarten now, ma. (Mother remarked 
 she did not want to. ) Not for my sake? 
 They will listen to you now, ma, be- 
 cause they know it is not you. A. . . is 
 going to church too, this morning. He 
 says he has been waiting to get a call 
 from you long enough. (A. . is a good 
 natured old gentleman, a good friend of 
 ours, who likes to visit us occasional- 
 ly. His remark about waiting for a 
 call is evidently a joking one referring 
 to my failing to ask him to go to church 
 with me. ) 
 
 "Sunbeam has made you laugh lots of 
 times when you did not know why. She 
 made you laugh that Tuesday, she was 
 so pleased that I was going." (We had 
 company on Tuesday of the week be- 
 fore the one during which he was taken, 
 and were feeling exceptionally happy, 
 because we were going to our new home, 
 as we thought. ) 
 
 June 26th. "We are very glad she 
 (Mother) can laugh. We thought she 
 had forgotten how. Uncle Ed says 
 you will laugh if he has anything to do 
 about it. You will all hear from me 
 this week so you will notice. Tell J . . 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 31 
 
 for me that I am very happy. Uncle 
 Ed says F. . wants von to write. 55 
 
 June 27th. "It will not be long. Ev- 
 erything is now taken out of your 
 hands. (Kef erring to our anxiety to 
 get moved to a quieter place.) You 
 just keep still as you can and wait. 
 Sunbeam says you think of her as Blos- 
 som. 
 
 "Cheer up. There are better times 
 coming." 
 
 June 29th. "I like everybody." This 
 was Sunbeam, who was learning to use 
 the board. Then Koy said, "Corres- 
 pondence School did that. She studied 
 with me. It hurt her because we did 
 not know. 55 This meant because we did 
 not know that she was around. Roy 
 had spent considerable time on school 
 work, and it was certainly a surprise to 
 us to find out that she had been learn- 
 ing at the same time. 
 
 July 1. "G-. . . says tell Mrs W. . . 
 that he always was a man of his word, 
 and that he goes to the same places that 
 he did when in the body, and that if she 
 will not doubt, that he will come so 
 strong that she will not need Leon 5 s 
 word. 
 
 "And he says furthermore, that when 
 
32 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 she doubts she shuts us all out. That 
 is J . . . 's lesson for this time. Your 
 life is the unreal one." 
 
 July 2. " 'Then let your secret 
 thoughts be fair. They have a vital 
 part and share in shaping worlds and 
 molding fate. God's system is so in- 
 tricate.' " This quotation was given by 
 him, by the instructions of a girl who 
 used to be my Sunday School teacher in 
 A. . ., Miss M. . . W. . ., who is now ap- 
 parently a teacher there. 
 
 "Went to Taunton today. Went to 
 lots of places. I think they are begin- 
 ning to think. We want people to real- 
 ize that they had better think about 
 something beyond." 
 
 July 3. "I want you to feel happy so 
 Sunbeam and I can. She and I are 
 doing all we can, as fast as we can. 
 A. . . They took me there and showed 
 me the room I was born into that life. 
 ("They" referred to the teacher men- 
 tioned above, and his grandma.) 
 
 "You know what a care your body has 
 been to you. Would you have wanted 
 me to have gone on with the frail one T 
 had? I think that if they had asked, 
 and you had known what was coming, 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 33 
 
 you would have loved me too much to 
 have kept me from it." 
 
 July 5th. "I am still busy and not 
 afraid of wearing out. Saw F. . . to- 
 day." Q. Does he know you are 
 around? Ans. "Sure." 
 
 July 8th. "F... will help to con- 
 vince M. . . or anyone else who is mak- 
 ing h — 1 for themselves and others. 
 (This F. . . is the atheist before refer- 
 red to. ) Did you get enough of the S . . 
 car? (Mrs. Stevens had persisted in 
 using this line, which was too hard and 
 long a trip for her. On this occasion 
 referred to they were in the midst of a 
 terrific thunderstorm while on the car, 
 everyone being frightened. She has 
 not used the line since ! ) 
 
 July 14th. " 'When a strong brain is 
 weighed against a pure heart it is like 
 balancing a bubble against a wedge of 
 pure gold.' M. . . said that." 
 
 July 15th. "Xow I want you to hold 
 back a little and you w T ill find people 
 coming to you for advice. I want you 
 to sit, relax, and find who controls 
 each." This meant that we were to hold 
 back on telling about the work that we 
 were doing, and rather let it travel it- 
 self, which it was bound to do. 
 
34 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 July 16th. " 'The whole world was 
 lost in the darkness of sin. The light 
 of the world is Jesus. Come to the 
 Light, 'tis shining for thee. Once you 
 were blind, but now you can see.' " 
 Please note the way and manner in 
 which these lines have been transposed 
 to suit his purpose, telling us that we 
 were once blind, as far as these matters 
 were concerned. "Uncle S . . . said he 
 always liked it." Referring to the 
 hymn above mentioned. 
 
 July 18th. "Must not be a one- 
 thought person. Must develop all sides. 
 Remember, we like the harmonious con- 
 ditions." The first remark referred to 
 our conversation at the time, about a 
 person who was inclined to be one-sided, 
 and inclined to make too much of one 
 subject, or idea. The second part refer- 
 red to trying to get messages when any- 
 one was around who was not in sympa- 
 thy with the work, or at least only tole- 
 rated it. 
 
 "You would be surprised if you could 
 know our plans. 'Let not your heart be 
 troubled. Ye believe in God, believe 
 also in me. In my Father's house are 
 many mansions. I go to prepare a 
 place for you. If it were not so I would 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 35 
 
 have told you.' Trust and Obey." Koy 
 was handling the board while this was 
 coining, but he said it came from "Mo- 
 11a." "She is like Aunt Sarah." (The 
 Quaker teacher.) "You want to do 
 things now, ma. Everything you 
 have had your thoughts on." "Kent." 
 When this name came, it called to Mr. 
 Stevens' mind a story which was told at 
 the old gentleman's expense for many^ 
 years, at the conclusion of which Koy 
 said that "They said they would make 
 dad tell that story." It was very laugh- 
 able, and when we were quieted down 
 afterwards, he said, "G. . . says now 
 Mrs. Stevens, have you all got enough?" 
 
 July 21. "You had better pick up 
 gradually. At the last you will have 
 to hurry. ( This was so, in spite of our 
 efforts to keep straightened out as far 
 as possible before moving.) Aunt Nel- 
 lie won't let vou go blind." 
 
 July 23rd. " Tor out of the abun- 
 dance of the heart the mouth speaketh.' 
 You want to keep up on all points now. 
 There will be new things doing contin- 
 uously. Wish I could say more. We 
 thought you could see us tonight. Keep 
 this up. (Eef erring to dark circle held 
 just before.) It can't be long. H. . . 
 
36 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 Charlie says it seems so good to see 
 such absolute faith. You will hear of 
 an accident in which you will be inter- 
 ested." This was the drowning accident 
 that same day in Meredith, N. H., a 
 Miss Koi. This was interesting to us 
 on account of the name, and for the fact 
 that we knew someone who was 
 stopping there at the time. 
 
 "C . . . told me to tell you." 
 
 "'Tis the promise of God, full sal- 
 vation to give." 
 
 July 26th. "I wish you would get 
 ready to get out of this place." 
 
 In another part of the book will be 
 found more information as to how we 
 found our new home. 
 
 "T . . . ." Upon being asked if it was 
 a certain person we knew of, he replied, 
 "Yes. He is telling me how to do these 
 things." 
 
 "Sunbeam carries a beautiful light 
 wherever she goes. It isn't pink, nor 
 gold, nor purple. I think azure." 
 
 July 30th. "Mabel helps me when 
 you have flowers on the table." Q. 
 Mabel W. . . ? Ans. "Yes." "Four 
 months. Pretty good, eh?" It was 
 four months ago this date that he 
 passed on. 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 37 
 
 "Well, let's see what the next four 
 will do. You told C . . . that Koy was 
 right in his glory, but you did not tell 
 one fourth. I am so glad that you all 
 make it so easy, and enjoy it as well as 
 we do. Lots can't get near their folks. 
 Alton Stevens says tell you he is right 
 here, and glad he can get in so easy. 
 (Here we remarked that we were get- 
 ting mighty good results on the board. ) 
 We couldn't if there wasn't harmony. 
 J. . . He says the Western States have 
 been full of it (Spiritualism) for a long 
 time." 
 
 July 31. "I am going down there for 
 business." (Taunton.) Q. What busi- 
 ness? Ans. "King's. I am allowed 
 to go with them when they take my 
 friends home. (This we found was a 
 Mrs. W... further referred to on 
 August 3rd. ) I can make impressions 
 now, all right, can't I?" 
 
 August 2. "Deacon S . . . Grandma 
 took us to see them today. She always 
 believed in Spirit. Grandpa S . . says 
 Hello. He says he comes very often, 
 but you have got so many he can't get 
 a chance to say anything." 
 
 August 3rd. We were talking about 
 the day he went, March 30th. "I was 
 
38 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 really born that day. That Mrs. W. . . 
 who died in Taunton was a friend of 
 mine. G... S... is home, as usual. 
 His mother knows he is there. He says 
 it takes mothers to know. This ought 
 to be in every home. It is going to be 
 universal, but we have something to 
 do." 
 
 August 8th. "Gr. . . and I went to 
 Taunton this noon. Sunbeam says dad 
 had a fine sleep in the hammock. She 
 is always chasing butterflies. She was 
 with you Saturday afternoon in the 
 woods." 
 
 At this point we were talking about 
 the time she "Shocked" me. It hap- 
 pened this way. During our dark circle 
 one night, I suddenly felt a good sized 
 electric shock, and at the same time was 
 frightened by what seemed to me to be 
 a blinding flash of light, although it 
 was not noticed by mother and father. 
 Mother did experience a peculiar sensa- 
 tion at the same moment, but not nearly 
 as bad as I did. I jumped, and said 
 "Oh!" Then I thought of what Sun- 
 beam had said during a previous ses- 
 sion, when she said that she would fix 
 me for teasing her. Then Koy said, 
 "She has laughed every day about that. 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 39 
 
 She says iny brother knows I am around 
 now." 
 
 "Perkins." In a joking way I said, 
 "Who, Dorothy?" Kef erring to the 
 crimson rambler by that name. Mother 
 swallowed the bait and said, "Who is 
 Dorothy Perkins?" Never thinking 
 about the flower. Of course we laugh- 
 ed at her, for being so easy, when Boy 
 started the board moving and said, 
 "That was what I said Perkins for. I 
 planned it when I was on the piazza 
 this afternoon. I made up my mind 
 that I would make you laugh tonight." 
 We speak of this to show how easily one 
 can be led to do just about what his 
 guides wish, if one listens at all. 
 
 "You do as we tell you from day to 
 day. This has been a hard day for ma. 
 We helped her all we could." 
 
 August 9th. "Wait till you get in 
 my house." 
 
 August 10th. "Packard. She was 
 not in her right mind." 
 
 August 12th. "You can't have har- 
 mony where there is such a racket. Now 
 Leon, stop trying to find out until we 
 get ready. (This in answer to a ques- 
 tion as to where we could move.) 
 
 "Sunapee is great this weather. C . . 
 
40 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 was there when I was. I talked with 
 
 him. Saw T Poor old T. . . I get 
 
 at him often. Tell Leon to be a good 
 boy. I watch him lots." (This from 
 Sunbeam.) 
 
 August 12th. Q. Isn't Koy here? 
 Ans. "I am always here only when you 
 folks send me away, when you don't 
 have faith to hold me." 
 
 Mother spoke here concerning her 
 poor health. "That is the trouble with 
 your solid body. I can travel now as I 
 always wanted to. I had the spirit but 
 not the strength. Grandmas are here 
 a lot lately. H . . . says he is glad dad 
 spoke to S. . . the other day. (About 
 our work. ) Sunapee is all wet. ( This 
 from Sunbeam.) She likes Sunapee. 
 She calls it Soonipi. Gr. . . and I have 
 been with J . . . some. We saw Niagara 
 Falls. I wish you folks could see it. 
 (This J. . . was at this time on a vaca- 
 tion trip through New York State. ) 
 
 "Do just as we say, from day to day, 
 and Ave will clear the way!" These 
 small rhymes were common to him be- 
 fore he passed on. "Try and have faith 
 in the Holy Spirit." 
 
 August 15th. "I tell you, folks, if 
 you could see something of our lives you 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 41 
 
 could not feel sad, unless it was be- 
 cause some get treated so by tlieir near- 
 est in your life." 
 
 August 16th. "Norton is great today. 
 I went to the S . . . today. I made them 
 feel creepy." This evidently meant 
 that he had made his old friends think 
 of him so strongly that they thought it 
 strange. 
 
 August 18th. "There are a great 
 many things I wish I could tell you but 
 there is a censor. You listen real hard 
 and I may be able to make you under- 
 stand. They are willing we should do 
 that if you are able to discern." 
 
 August 19th. "We took some folks 
 home last night. If you had seen them 
 last night, you would have been glad I 
 went out just as I did." This referred 
 to a little boy killed. 
 
 August 20th. "H . . . says how does 
 it seem? He says it is all true, every- 
 thing, and more than he could tell. 
 Something doing in our circles all the 
 time now. You will see and hear it 
 from all quarters. That is what I was 
 going to say for your benefit. Sun- 
 beam and I went to Brockton this morn- 
 ing. Met G. . in Taunton. Aunt 
 Xellie, Grandmas, Sunbeam and I 
 
42 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 went to Melrose." (The cemetery at 
 Brockton containing our lot.) 
 
 Q. How many are here now? Ans. 
 "How long will you give me? If you 
 could see them all waiting when they 
 know someone is going to talk." 
 
 August 22. During these next few 
 weeks there is considerable message 
 work concerning our change to a new 
 home. 
 
 I wish to take a few moments here to 
 tell of the way in which we found our- 
 selves situated as we now are, in a little 
 home of our own, where conditions are 
 much better than they ever have been 
 for us. 
 
 It will be remembered that we 
 changed our plans last Spring, and 
 moved to Dorchester, where we were 
 not at all satisfied. 
 
 It seemed to us for some months, in 
 fact up to at least midsummer, that we 
 should never want to buy a home, as we 
 had planned in the Spring, but it seems 
 that the plans of those on the other side 
 who were helping us were already laid. 
 It was about the last week in July, 
 after we were nearly discouraged with 
 being able to tell where we were to 
 locate. Mrs. Stevens was finding her 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 43 
 
 situation especially unbearable, being 
 at home all day. On the day spoken 
 of, she said, "Oh, Roy, can't you tell me 
 where to go to look for a house that will 
 be what we want?" As clearly as could 
 be came the response to her, "River St, 
 Station." She took the car for that 
 point, and was walking in the direction 
 of the house which we had planned to 
 buy last Spring, and, while passing 
 along the street near there, saw a little 
 house being built. She felt immediate- 
 ly that it was her home, and wanted to 
 see it, but could not because there were 
 no steps or porches finished. The name 
 of the street on which the house is lo- 
 cated was giYen us on May 31st, also on 
 June 11th and July 13th, but of course 
 we were not able to place it at that 
 time. The name of the real estate 
 Agent through whoni the papers were 
 passed was giYen us on June 21st, and 
 the name of the builder was given on 
 April 30 and May 22. The name of our 
 next door neighbor was given on June 
 30th, and July 1. Please remember 
 that none of these were known to us at 
 the time. Mrs. Stevens sent Mr. Stev- 
 ens and myself out the following Sat- 
 urday to see the house if possible, but 
 
44 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 here is where we made a mistake which 
 complicated matters for a while. 
 
 We had an idea that it was the 
 former house that they were trying to 
 get for ns, so we looked at that again, 
 and finding it still unsold, we went to 
 see the agent from whom we were plan- 
 ning to buy in the Spring. 
 
 This was not what was wanted, how- 
 ever, and all the time that we were 
 talking about the first house, mother 
 felt that the second one was the right 
 one. She asked Roy to find a customer 
 for the first house, if it was the second 
 one that was the right one. 
 
 Matters went on, rather unsettled, 
 until the twenty-third of August, and 
 we had planned to look at the house on 
 that morning, to make the final decis- 
 ion. Finding the Real Estate office 
 closed, they decided to go up and look 
 at the house themselves, and, on reach- 
 ing it, found the "Sale" sign removed. 
 Then Mrs. Stevens felt relieved, and 
 they at once went down to the second 
 house, were shown over it by the build- 
 er's foreman, and three days afterward 
 completed the bargain. 
 
 Here I am going to give the messages 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 45 
 
 received on this date, August 25th, as 
 follows : — 
 
 "Oh, dad, you make us laugh, run- 
 ning around just as I say. When you 
 went to the agent, I was pretty 
 sure that he wasn't there, and you told 
 ma that you didn't leave your card, as 
 she told you. I picked that house out 
 when I found out what kind of a man 
 Mr. W. . ., the builder, was. Now you 
 will have to hurry to be ready when 
 the house is. I must tell Gr. . . all 
 about it now. He doesn't know that I 
 have told you about it." 
 
 Here we are, and if anyone had told 
 us last Summer what would happen 
 since then, we could not have believed 
 it. 
 
 It will be found that the house is re- 
 ferred to quite often in August and 
 September, in the records of messages. 
 
 "Uncle Levi thinks it will be the 
 right place for you all, even kitty ! 
 L . . . S . . . says he wishes more people 
 would stop and get acquainted with 
 themselves in this way. You will know 
 very soon what you want to know. 
 ( Something about the house, which we 
 were trying to settle. ) Get your things 
 all ready as fast as you can." 
 
46 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 August 23. "The Kailroad men are 
 interested as mucli as they ever were 
 in railroads. Aunt Nellie thinks a 
 good deal of them, and they just wor- 
 ship her. E . . E . . . He is a teacher.'' 
 
 August 24th. "Boy isn't ready so I 
 will talk. (Sunbeam gave this mes- 
 sage.) She gets ahead of me every 
 time lately. I don't try very hard! 
 Shall be glad wiien you get all moved. 
 We have been out there a lot." 
 
 August 25th. "Ma is beginning to 
 know what my change was, and that I 
 am more alive than I ever was; and 
 you will be surprised at the things 
 they are going to let me tell you about, 
 and show you. The way I engineered 
 the house convinced her better than 
 any other." 
 
 This latter seems to refer to the 
 mother, who still wanted to be perfect- 
 ly sure that the messages had ab- 
 solutely nothing to do with our own 
 minds. When they found that she was 
 entirely convinced, it seems that it 
 then became possible for more to be 
 told, knowing that it would be re- 
 ceived in faith. 
 
 August 26th. "I picked that house 
 out when I found out what kind of a 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 47 
 
 man Mr. W. . was. Sunbeam has been 
 anxious for me to tell you what we 
 have been doing. (Concerning the 
 house.) Now you will have to hurry 
 to be ready when the house is." 
 
 August 27th. "You ought to see the 
 homes some people have here." At 
 this point we made comments on this 
 subject, as to how people conducted 
 themselYes while here, thereby deter- 
 mining the kind of Spiritual home they 
 were to ha Ye. "That is the right idea ; 
 just according to their unselfishness." 
 
 Q. Boy, who was it I heard singing 
 this morning, before I woke? Just a few 
 words to explain: I was just between 
 sleeping and waking, early that morn- 
 ing, when I heard a wonderfully sweet 
 Yoice singing "Home, Sweet Home." 
 There was also the most beautiful har- 
 mony blended with it. Gradually, as 
 I awakened, it died away. I shall 
 neYer forget the sweet melody of that 
 song, and, coming as it did when we 
 were planning for our new home, it 
 struck me very forcibly, and I was 
 anxious to find out more. Some may 
 think it strange when they read his an- 
 swer, but after a moment's thought, it 
 is by no means impossible. Ans. "You 
 
48 LETTERS PROM ROY 
 
 would not know her now. Sometime. 
 Nordica. She is a friend of Aunt 
 Nellie's. That is why ma cut out her 
 picture. (Mother had placed Nor- 
 dica's picture in a scrap book, years 
 ago. ) The harmony was caused by one 
 of the heavenly singers. Ma heard it 
 one night." 
 
 It may easily be seen that I was 
 deeply grateful for this beautiful bit 
 which was given me from the other 
 side. Another thing rather curious 
 about the incident: it had entirely 
 slipped my mind that her real name 
 was Norton, until called to my atten- 
 tion on January 26th, 1917, and then I 
 suddenly remembered that that name 
 had been given on the board many, 
 many times, with no explanation. 
 
 We had taken it for granted that he 
 was always speaking of the little town 
 near Taunton, our old home. Now I 
 do not think so. 
 
 "Sunbeam and I like the Church at 
 M . . . . You remember about the per- 
 sons I told you you would meet at the 
 right church." 
 
 It will be remembered that in an 
 earlier part of the book I was told 
 that I would know when the time came, 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 49 
 
 which was the church I was to attend, 
 and the names of three persons given 
 me. Avhom I would meet there. 
 
 August 27th. 7 :30 P. M. Sunbeam 
 said, "Hello. You want to know my 
 real name?" Roy then said, "She laugh- 
 ed and said 'I am going to make them 
 guess.' It was often on niy lips. She 
 says I may tell you. I should think 
 you could guess, ma. Kuth. Aunt 
 Xellie named her. We are going to 
 give you a lot more than this. M . . . is 
 here again. You would like her, ma. 
 She is learning to be a teacher, same 
 as I." 
 
 August 28th. Q. Were you helping 
 me today, Eoy? (After I had had an 
 unusually busy day in the office. ) Ans. 
 "Between you and ma and dad you 
 have kept me going." 
 
 August 29th. "Saw A.. T. . after 
 I left you, dad, and he asked me my 
 name. I told him who I was and he 
 said he used to know my folks. Do you 
 know what made me write to F. . . for 
 a job? A. . . told me today that he put 
 it into my head when he saw how bad 
 I wanted to get on the road." 
 
 August 30th. "M. . . He is one fine 
 man. He would like to reach his son. 
 
50 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 He said you don't know how I wish I 
 could reach my folks as you can." 
 
 August 31. "We are going to do 
 things when we get in our house. H . . 
 knows that we are around, but he does 
 not think it best to say anything, but 
 he knows he receives it fine." 
 
 Sept. 1. "Gr. . . says you will move 
 sooner than you expect if he has any- 
 thing to do about it." 
 
 Sept. 3. I was planning a trip to 
 Taunton that day, and when such is 
 the case, we have always commu- 
 nicated early in the morning, just be- 
 fore I start, in order to see what he 
 has to say for the day. 
 
 "Gr. . and I are going to church with 
 you. I'll impress you what to say." 
 
 He refers to this subject, which he 
 is apparently spreading carefully 
 among his old friends. Of course it 
 is something which, I am sorry to 
 say, one has to be rather diplomatic 
 as to where any words are dropped con- 
 cerning it. I have so far, however, 
 found that the majority of people are 
 very willing, and in some cases quite 
 anxious, to receive any information on 
 the subject, coming from one whom 
 they know, and in whom they have 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 51 
 
 always been able to trust, rather than 
 from some stranger, about whom they 
 knew nothing. 
 
 It is the absolute sincerity which 
 must be kept intact, and the note of 
 truth must ring through one's state- 
 ments, in order to keep this wonderful 
 study on its proper high level, rather 
 than the elements of charlatanism, 
 which, to the great discredit of some, 
 have appeared from time to time in 
 the past. 
 
 I speak of this at this time, because 
 it occurs to me that in the spreading of 
 these words one to another, much of 
 the truth may be lost sight of, and 
 other things creep in which have no 
 place there. 
 
 I may not make myself quite clear, 
 but I wish to lay particular stress on 
 the Truth, as you will find spoken of a 
 number of times later on in the record. 
 It is the one important element to suc- 
 cess of any kind. 
 
 Sept. 4th. " 'Let not your heart be 
 troubled. Ye believe in God, believe also 
 in me.' All is coming out fine if you 
 folks do as we say. We have lots of 
 clean fun. Take things as they come, 
 with no complaints, and you will see 
 
52 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 how much better things will be. In 
 other words, just trust. Gr. . . often 
 goes with me to see the Eailroad men, 
 and enjoys it. (It seems by this state- 
 ment that they are often with the Eail- 
 road men in this life, and other state- 
 ments he has made on the same sub- 
 ject lead one to think that they take a 
 great interest in that work. Perhaps 
 more especially so in our family, in 
 which there are quite a number of B.B. 
 men. ) H . . believes I have helped him 
 wonderfully." 
 
 Sept. 5th. "B. . says tell Uncle B. . 
 we are all ready to save people in that 
 life. We want all the help from your 
 side. E . . . K . . . has been thinking of 
 me a lot. I go to see her often. I am 
 going to make her know I am around. '* 
 
 Sept. 7th. "H . . is on that I am help- 
 ing him. You have not got one thing 
 to worry about, and when you do it up- 
 sets all of us." 
 
 Sept. 9th. "Mrs. C . . was one of the 
 many who took Mr. S. . ., (naming a 
 Taunton man who passed away very 
 suddenly just before this. ) I saw him, 
 of course, but did not say anything, 
 until later, he felt so strange. Uncle 
 Ed says you will be there before you 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 53 
 
 know it. He says ask Leon if he re- 
 members what I said about moving." 
 
 This referred to the time I asked 
 Rot if we would haTe to moTe again, 
 and he replied that when the time came 
 I would be there first. 
 
 Sept. 10th. "I heard L. . . W. . . to- 
 day. (The day of Mr. S..'s funeral. 
 This L. . TV. . is a Taunton man.) 
 
 "Saw a lot of our old friends. And 
 they called it heart disease! (Please 
 think this OTer, for there is a world of 
 meaning behind it.) Leon must see 
 them when he goes down." 
 
 Sept. 11th. 'Watch out today, Leon. 
 I am onto eTeryone that has anything 
 to do with mine, and if you do as I tell 
 you, I will see you where I want to. 
 Be quiet, kind, courteous. Remember, 
 the fellow who yields the last knock is 
 thought the good fellow." 
 
 Sept. 13th. "Cousin Edna is here. 
 She says 'Hello, Aunt Carrie. I know 
 these are your boys. I am not gray, 
 and neTer shall be. I haTe used these 
 many times. (The board.) Tell Uncle 
 H . . I came and used this.' " Then Roy 
 said, "She is a grand woman. I haTe 
 lots of fun. I wish you could all feel 
 as good as I do." 
 
54 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 Sept. 15th. "C. . H. . says does dad 
 remember W. . A. . I can't take time 
 to tell you all that were around while 
 you were talking. ( This was while Mr. 
 Stevens was talking to some Eailroad 
 men.) ; ! 
 
 "Patsy is with you a great deal. He 
 is so anxious to have them all know 
 how it is with him. (This was the poor 
 fellow r who used to frequent the rail- 
 road offices for so many years, spoken 
 of elsewhere.) We want you to re- 
 member that we are not dead. You 
 are the dead ones, A . . . says !" 
 
 Sept. 17th. "Lots of fun mixed in 
 with business in this life." Q. Who 
 showed me the storm? (Kef erring to 
 a storm at sea, which I saw pictured 
 very plainly.) Ans. "A guide. Your 
 grandma has been trying to guide you 
 for some time. Now she is going to." 
 
 Sept. 18th. "You will hear of an 
 accident, carriage." This came true 
 shortly afterward, being a runaway. 
 
 Sept. 19th. "There is a minister 
 around you who makes you want to 
 pronounce the benediction." Q. Who? 
 Ans. "I can, but I don't want to." Q. 
 Was it S. . . H. . . ? Ans. "Yes." 
 
 Sept. 22nd. "Here is your friend 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 55 
 
 A . . . . Where do you tliink he has 
 been? To the S.... He used to go 
 there with me often. He said he knew 
 I did not feel like going lots of times, 
 so he went along to keep my courage 
 up." Q. He is a star, isn't he? Ans. 
 "He is that and more." "Hello to you 
 all." (Mr. W. . . ) "He says he knows 
 it doesn't take long to find out your 
 friends in this life. The veil is differ- 
 ent." (This man passed away sudden- 
 ly, in the fall of 1915, at Taunton.) Q. 
 Ask him if he remembers the good 
 times we had bowling? Ans. "He says 
 Ha, Ha, Leon. I don't forget so eas- 
 ily." 
 
 Sept. 24th. "G His father saw 
 
 him last night. (The father is in earth 
 life. ) We had a picnic with him. He 
 did not know what the matter was with 
 him. Grandmas and grandpas here. 
 We went to our house this morning.'* 
 Q. by mother. Did you take me? Ans. 
 "We took your astral." Here mother 
 referred to the uselessness of carrying 
 around our physical bodies, which was 
 quite natural, considering the amount 
 of suffering she has had with hers, and 
 from which she is by no means free 
 now. 
 
56 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 "You will have to travel with that 
 some time longer." 
 
 Sept. 26th. This was the day on 
 which we moved into our new home, 
 and, in the consequent confusion and 
 extra work, there was of course less 
 time devoted to this work, but we took 
 a little time for it every day, just the 
 same. 
 
 "How do you like your new home? 
 New to you ! We will have great times 
 here. This is something like living." 
 
 Sept. 27th. "I went to Taunton this 
 P. M. Pretty, but this is pretty, too." 
 This particular evening I had some 
 business to attend to, and as I left the 
 house set a time about when I expected 
 to return. I was somewhat late, and, 
 while mother tries not to get nervous, 
 knowing it is unnecessary, she felt 
 worried for fear something had hap- 
 pened. She did not tell me, though, 
 when I reached home, and the first I 
 knew of it was when we were using the 
 board Koy said, "I found ma out on the 
 steps looking for you tonight." Then 
 she admitted it. 
 
 Sept. 29th. "Tell Aunt G... the 
 flowers were OK. I do have all kinds 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 57 
 
 of fiui with you folks." Here Ruth 
 said, "He means we do." 
 
 "Uncle Ed says hello, how do you 
 like? He says 'I want you to know 
 that I was in on that.' " (Building 
 the house.) 
 
 Sept. 30th. "I have got my semi, 
 haven't I, dad. Xow how about me for 
 planning?" This referred to a semi- 
 direct light, which, boy-fashion, he 
 was crazy to have put in our new 
 house, that is, the one we were plan- 
 ning on last Spring. 
 
 Referring to the planning part, I 
 Avish to speak here of the numberless 
 times that we have found out how they 
 plan for us here, and sometimes have 
 to take a longer way round than they 
 would if we listened to them more care- 
 fully. If people would only think of 
 this, much trouble might be saved. 
 
 Oct. 1. Mrs. Stevens was talking 
 about the day he was sick, March 30th, 
 and said then that she hoped he would 
 be better the next morning. "Well, 
 wasn't I? Hard work to make her see 
 it. I don't see how you can stand it 
 without the cars ! I was with Mr. S . . 
 at Taunton todav. He has made them 
 think." 
 
58 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 Oct. 3. "MissD... She was talk- 
 ing about you today. They still tell 
 how sad it was. It makes us laugh 
 when we hear some people talk. Say, 
 won't w^e have fun when ma comes to 
 this life? She will be surprised all the 
 time." 
 
 Oct. 4th. "Mrs. C . . . wants to say 
 Good Evening." Here I remarked in 
 a joking way for her to come in and sit; 
 down. "She laughed and said you were 
 too late. Now, here comes A . . . He 
 says 'I am all down, Leon!' He and 
 G . . . and Uncle Ed and I will be at 
 Brockton Fair tomorrow. Our lan- 
 guage is so much simpler than that one. 
 I want you all to study it. The unruly 
 member gets folks into trouble." 
 
 Oct. 5th. "We have a lot of Bail- 
 road men coming. (That evening, I 
 suppose, to visit. ) J . . told them how 
 pretty your bouquets were. C . . . says 
 he is going to take one ! A . . . He likes 
 the boys. He says they are so jolly. 
 (The R.R. men.) G. . says good even- 
 ing." 
 
 Oct. 6. "Can't you find your glasses, 
 ma? Eemember the time you found 
 dad's?" This was an incident we had 
 forgotten about, one summer, about 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 59 
 
 five years ago, at Middletown, E. I., 
 where Ave were staving. Mr. Stevens 
 lost his glasses while in bathing, and 
 Mrs. Stevens found them, the next day, 
 which we thought very lucky. As we 
 look hack now, we do not lay it all to 
 luck, judging by other things which 
 have happened. 
 
 "Great day at Brockton. Some win- 
 dow cleaner. How does it go?" An- 
 other little incident to show how people 
 can be impressed. 
 
 We were unable to get our windows 
 cleaned, being a new house and cover- 
 ed with paint spots as they were. We 
 did not know Avhat to do, until one 
 morning Koy impressed it upon his 
 mother's mind to try vinegar! This 
 she had not known about before, and, 
 incidentally, we pass it on now, if it 
 will do anyone any good ! 
 
 "Hello, my ma. I love you, every 
 one." This was Kuth. "She leaves me 
 out on purpose." Q. Why? Ans. "Be- 
 cause she knows she will get all the 
 loving she wants." 
 
 Oct. 7th. "I want you all to learn 
 my method of communication. Aunt 
 Sarah says mediums cannot live too 
 clean lives." 
 
60 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 Oct. 8th. "M. . A. . W. . wants to 
 be announced. What made you play 
 a march? (I answered that I thought 
 I did it of my own free will.) "You 
 are only Grandma's, Sunbeam-Buth's, 
 and my instrument, or rather, the Holy 
 Spirit's told about my swerv- 
 ing when I carried the cross (in the 
 choir.) That hurt my feelings then. 
 Now it hurts his. His folks made him 
 understand why I was chosen, and why 
 I could not carry it straight. (This 
 was on account of lack of physical 
 strength.) I took the ginger out of 
 him, as I did lots of others, who were 
 impatient because I did not see things 
 in their way. Quiet people, if you will 
 observe them, make the most noise. 
 They were talking about me down to 
 choir today. Strange? I don't think 
 so. G. . . and I feel more natural 
 than we did there, and the best part of 
 it is that I can stay right here all day 
 when I want to, or when you need me. 
 Don't cry. I am having a better time 
 than you. Hello, Leon and our two. 
 They all like my house, don't they? 
 Don't tell things we say. They make 
 us weary, trying to prove by their little 
 puny ways that there is nothing in 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 61 
 
 what you have told them. Grandma 
 says let them alone. Yon will get bet- 
 ter results. (All this refers to some- 
 one who doubted. ) She says she knows 
 them, and yon know what you know, 
 and if they would use common sense 
 they would see, but they haven't had 
 enough yet to beat it into them. She 
 says you wait a while and they will be 
 trying to find out things, and you keep 
 as dumb as an oyster." 
 
 This proved to our satisfaction that 
 our spirit friends get impatient at too 
 great an exhibition of "thickheaded- 
 ness. 7 ' 
 
 Oct. 9th. "G. . and I will be at the 
 Guild, all right. Great. I go any time 
 I want to. It makes us laugh when we 
 stop to listen. ( To unbelievers. ) Great 
 times coming. Glad you are on the 
 right train." 
 
 Oct. 11. "H . . was with us this P. M., 
 while Ave were talking to Uncle B . . . " 
 
 Oct. 12. "Ye shall know the truth, 
 and the truth shall make you free. Mrs. 
 . . . says she wishes her family cared 
 enough to do as you folks are doing, 
 Euth has been out with Billy. (Our 
 cat.) She is a darling. Wait till you 
 can know her as I do. Uncle Levi says 
 
62 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 she and ma are as much alike as two 
 peas in a pod, as ma was at her age." 
 
 Oct. 13. "C . . and someone else you 
 know. L . . says hello. She says, 'Oh, 
 I wish my folks would do this.' " 
 
 Oct. 16th. "Was down to the S . . to- 
 day. It's great making people feel 
 that they saw you or heard you speak. 
 Mr. G-. . knows there is something in 
 this." 
 
 Oct. 17th. "Tell Mrs. W . . I am very 
 happy with my sister, and I have met 
 lots of people who sing her (Mrs. . . . ) 
 praises. Adams. He says you tell 
 Uncle B . . . that I have been with him 
 more than one trip that he didn't know 
 about." Adams was a former railroad 
 man. 
 
 Oct. 20th. "I am going to tell you 
 something, Leon. I am going to run 
 you up against some mighty fine people, 
 but you don't want to once lose your 
 head, because you will be more sorry 
 than I can tell. When you are in 
 doubt, just do as ma told me to do ; put 
 your mind on higher things. You have 
 got to do our work, or we shall have to 
 resort to extreme measures." 
 
 Oct. 21. "Tell Mrs W. . . that I talk 
 with my mother, just as I used to do. 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 63 
 
 Tell lier or anyone who is interested 
 that I did not know what it was to feel 
 strong, same as some boys, but I am 
 well and very happy. But I should not 
 be if my mother did not know that I 
 am. Grandma says she has got you 
 boys just where she wants you." 
 
 Oct. 22. This Sunday I planned a 
 trip to Taunton. "Some work for me 
 today, Leon. Tell J. . . what grandma 
 said. Get a word in where it seems 
 suitable, but keep your head. I want 
 them to see that I am bringing you up. 7 ' 
 "Hello, ma and my big brother. (Kuth.) 
 May I go with you boys ? I should, any- 
 way." 
 
 Oct. 27th. "Mr. L . . . knows there is 
 something different from the everyday 
 grind." 
 
 I told this man a few days before 
 about some of our results and evidently 
 gave him something to think about. 
 
 Oct. 29. "A., said last night that you 
 are in the same class as his wife. You 
 cannot get away from those with whom 
 you belong. Aunt Xellie, Mrs. W. . J. . 
 E . . . and a good many others are in 
 the same class. C. . . is in the same 
 class as Leon. It is a wonderful study, 
 if people would only open their eyes. 
 
64 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 B . . F . . is in ma's class. E . . is in 
 Leon's. Buth just came in and said, 
 'What are you talking about, Boy?' 1 
 had my cap and gown on. ( This is the 
 first time he has made a statement like 
 this one, and we hardly knew what to 
 make of it. It opened up something- 
 new for us to consider, and that was 
 that he was able to give us something 
 a little more advanced than hereto- 
 fore.) L. . has done some thinking. 
 The H . . . s think it is wonderful. I did 
 once." 
 
 Oct. 30th. "I tried to tell you who 
 took E . . 's money. T . . C . . . Saw him 
 today, with H . . L . . . I told them my 
 mother told me about them. They are 
 up to their old tricks, making people 
 laugh. T . . played at the C . . S . . long 
 after folks thought he was dead. H . . 
 L . . travelled a good deal playing heav- 
 ier parts after they thought him gone." 
 
 People who used to attend this thea- 
 tre in Boston some years ago will read- 
 ily place these two. 
 
 Nov. 3. "Mr. H . . says your roses 
 are fine. He says we know we are wel- 
 come at this place." 
 
 Nov. 4th. "Saw E. . M. . today. It 
 seemed to him that he saw me. Leon. 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 65 
 
 you had some time cleaning up the 
 ashes. Did pretty well, though. Pa- 
 tience is one of the things they are 
 trying you out on. Oh, those things 
 used to bother me so." This referred 
 to my discovery of our ash barrel 
 tipped upside down on the sidewalk in 
 front of the house, evidently done in a 
 spirit of rowdyism during the night 
 and which made me somewhat angry 
 at the work caused. When he gave this 
 message I was glad I did not get more 
 impatient. 
 
 Xov. 5th. "Mr. H . . . was taken for 
 the great work, which is nearing com- 
 pletion. He is wonderful." 
 
 Xov. 6. "It's funny you don't know 
 how many good qualities a fellow has 
 until you think he's dead." 
 
 Xov. 14th. "Xow G. . says I must 
 put on my cap and gown. Harmony is 
 the keynote of the grandest music; of 
 success in everything. Strive for it. It 
 means health, happiness, prosperity. It 
 is the secret of all truly great souls. Do 
 not go in the room with any inharmo- 
 nious feelings. Enough; you learn that 
 well and we will give you more." The 
 room referred to is one we reserve 
 especially for work of this nature, for 
 
66 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 holding sittings, and nothing is allowed 
 to disturb the feeling which seems to 
 surround it. We call it Roy's room. 
 
 Nov. 18th. "Tell F. . we want him 
 to be ready to receive our messages." 
 
 Nov. 19th. "Mary was here last 
 night. She makes ma talk every time. 
 Sometimes they don't like it, but she 
 says it goes. She is a teacher. 'Oh, 
 Death, where is thy sting? Oh, Grave, 
 where is thy victory?' Dr. G-. .. One 
 of our teachers, and a special friend of 
 Mary's." 
 
 "Prayer is the only way to begin the 
 day." 
 
 Nov. 20th. " 'And He shall give His 
 angels charge over thee, to keep thee in 
 all thy ways.' Aunt Sarah." 
 
 Nov. 23. "I went to High St. Saw 
 P . . . It seems to him as though I was 
 around a good deal." 
 
 Nov. 24th. "A . . says in a year from 
 now we shall miss a good many from 
 our midst. They will leave their bodies 
 and put on immortality. Some one 
 here who has seen the Alps. You could 
 never guess. Enlighten E . . . as soon 
 as you can. Mrs. R . . says, and so you 
 are brothers, and did not tell me she 
 was your mother ; and she says, and so 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 67 
 
 they are your boys. She came last 
 night. She said, when I read for you 
 (Boy) I did not think we would both be 
 out of the body so soon. (She Avas a 
 medium who read for Kov in February, 
 1916. She passed on in July, 1916.) 
 
 "Oh, I wish you could see the crowd. 
 Xo use, I had better not begin to 
 name!" He evidently was discouraged 
 at trying to give us the names of people 
 present, as was his method some 
 evenings. 
 
 Nov. 26th. "The boy might go to a 
 meeting this afternoon, if he wishes. 
 (I did go, and was given a fine reading 
 by a stranger in the city. ) Gray Eagle 
 says if you don't want him just say so. 
 He would like to come. But you must 
 not try to shake the one who has been 
 around patient so long. (This is a 
 young Indian chief, who has been with 
 me for at least thirteen years, being 
 first called to my attention by a man in 
 Xcav Hampshire, who described him to 
 me for the first time. How long he was 
 with me before that, I do not know, but 
 I do know he is still with me, and has 
 been described to me a number of times 
 since then. As near as I can ascertain, 
 his name is Sunset.) He has helped 
 
68 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 you out of a lot. Has kept your head 
 above water. Say, it's fine to see the 
 way you folks understand Kuth and 
 me." 
 
 Nov. 27. "Lecture. Be careful about 
 the truth. Some can exaggerate, but 
 this class it tears down immediately. 
 Others, it may be centuries which they 
 have to account. 'The stone which the 
 builders refused has become the head 
 of the corner.' " The message just 
 before this may not be quite clear in 
 its wording, but the meaning as taken 
 by us is that it may take some people 
 centuries to account for something 
 false, or wrong. 
 
 Nov. 28th. "What I tell ye in dark- 
 ness, that speak ye in the light. A. . . 
 says that is significant." About four- 
 teen or fifteen years ago A . . . ? s wife 
 came to Mrs. Stevens at midnight, one 
 night, with this quotation. This was 
 shortly after she had passed on. It was 
 so vivid an experience that it somewhat 
 frightened her, and she aroused us all, 
 at the time, to tell us about it. It was 
 indeed significant to us, judging by the 
 experiences of the vears between. 
 
 Nov. 29th. "Tell E. . . that I would 
 like her to read . . . and . . .," (naming 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 69 
 
 two books of this nature. ) E ... is 
 the daughter of the Mr. S . . . referred 
 to before, who passed away in Taunton 
 early in the fall of 1916. 
 
 Nov. 30th. '"This is the day you want 
 to see every chance to be happy. Many 
 hungry hearts today. Many trying so 
 hard to make it known that they have 
 not gone away off somewhere in the 
 skies. Mrs. P . . says she wishes some- 
 one she knows would try this. (Board.) 
 She says I am a lucky boy. The T . . . 
 boy has about given up trying to make 
 his family understand. His mother 
 thinks she imagines things." 
 
 Dec. 3. "Are you going to Taunton 
 today? You will be surprised before 
 bedtime. You mil not feel impressed 
 to say much until the impression comes. 
 They will put the words into your 
 mouth. C . . says he is going with me 
 this morning. He says he likes the 
 W. . family. I will be with you when 
 you go to Melrose (Cemetery.)" 
 
 Dec. 4th. "Let a son shine in? Sun- 
 beam in, too ! She always understands 
 me but doesn't always know it." Kefer- 
 ring to his mother being able to under- 
 stand what he says to her. 
 
 Dec. 5th. "1917 is going to be a 
 
70 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 great spiritual awakening. Strong men 
 and women will be found in great 
 numbers. You want to see me in my 
 cap and gown? It is not my fault that 
 you cannot. Mrs. W. .. She has been 
 here before." 
 
 Dec. 6th. "Some glory for Taunton. 
 (It went no-license.) I did more than 
 you and dad together. Many worked 
 
 hard to influence Now we are 
 
 going for Boston. I have had some fun 
 watching folks lately. They don't know 
 that each one has a great many watch- 
 ing." 
 
 Dec. 9th. "Mrs P . . says she thought 
 you (Mrs. Stevens) were coming before 
 I did. Maggie. (An Indian girl, a 
 guide belonging to a woman in Bridge- 
 water. This is the American name she 
 goes by, evidently.) Q. Has she been 
 here before? Ans. "Surely. You wait 
 until you know her. She is O K." 
 
 Dec. 10th. "We are doing things to 
 the serpent of all serpents. (Liquor.) 
 Decency abhors it. 
 
 "If you could see, when you are sit- 
 ting especially, the faces around you. 
 
 "I dreaded it when I thought I had 
 to go, but you could not get me back 
 again. H . . . He likes our minister. 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 71 
 
 They could all have lots of help if they 
 would only look for it." 
 
 Dec. 11. "Don't get impatient. That 
 is your lesson, you know. Tom Gr. . . 
 (A young man drowned in the accident 
 at the Summer St. bridge, Boston, 
 shortly before this, and who boarded at 
 the house of my aunt.) I found him 
 as soon as I could. He is an unusual 
 character. High ideals. Too much so 
 for that life. It was lonely. Few 
 friends. He found he could not mingle 
 with them. Their ways were not his." 
 
 Dec. 13. "There is something going 
 to happen. I should like to tell you, 
 but I have been warned. Marion. We 
 think a lot of her. H. . wants to be 
 remembered to all." 
 
 Dec. 14th. "That is the thing I want 
 you to do when you want our help or 
 advice. Ask, and then forget it. (This 
 concerned his picture, for which his 
 mother was very anxious, because we 
 then had no good likeness of him at the 
 time he passed on. More about this 
 will be found in another part of the 
 book.) A., would like to say good 
 evening. You will hear something 
 which will please you." 
 
 Dec. 16th. "You have often thought 
 
72 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 that you would like to mingle with the 
 greatest thinkers. You have only to 
 think of it. They often come and have 
 to wait to get in. That is why inhar- 
 mony throws you down. That is why 
 you feel so buoyant when in this. It is 
 all so simple, when we get in harmony. 
 G. . . likes to get here when the boy 
 feels the way he did tonight." 
 
 Dec. 17th. "W. . W. .. He likes our 
 choir. He says he is doing some travel- 
 ling now, farther than to Boston. Har- 
 vard is in black. They had better have 
 used white." (When Professor Mun- 
 sterberg passed away.) 
 
 Dec. 19th. "Mr, A., says tell E.. 
 that he will be right around on Christ- 
 mas, as he is most of the time. He 
 wishes they would all realize that he is 
 only anxious to be called on. He is 
 making his presence felt. He is help- 
 ing each one as they give him oppor- 
 tunity." 
 
 This was in response to my request 
 for a Christmas message for a certain 
 family, when I asked Eoy to ask the 
 member of that family if he could not 
 send some word to the rest of them, at 
 Christmas time. 
 
 Dec. 24th. "A . . wishes you a Merry 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 73 
 
 Christinas. You won't go alone to 
 Melrose. Say, they keep ine busy to- 
 night. You ought to see C . . . Kuth 
 thinks it is line. Those joyful times 
 draw a crowd from this side." (Kef er- 
 ring to Christmas trees, and carol sing- 
 ing.) 
 
 Dec. 25th. "We had a great time last 
 night. How do you do this fine Christ- 
 mas day ?" (Kuth.) Q. I guess you are 
 a happy girl this year. Ans. "Happy ! 
 I guess I am. You tell dad I am a 
 happy girl." "Edna says she always 
 wanted a brother, same as Koy wanted 
 a sister. She says she always comes 
 here when you get on a "tear". (Mean- 
 ing on the days when I feel full of fun. ) 
 Maybe you don't know it. Uncle Ed 
 says you draw a good crowd when ma 
 don't get blue. 
 
 "When you cannot see and hear it is 
 not our fault. There is a little stranger 
 added to our group. Boy. He came 
 from Colorado. He is a cherub. A 
 baby. Harry. My cap is on! Now 
 listen. When you go into my room drop 
 all thoughts of what you are going to 
 get. Don't think at all. We will do 
 the best we can. You cannot see from 
 our side, so just be patient. Don't you 
 
74 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 suppose I shall talk just as soon as 
 it is favorable? It is better to be quiet. 
 Don't tell what you get until after, for 
 each one gets something different; and, 
 don't you see, each one has different 
 forces. Euth is coming, so here goes 
 the cap ! Hello, everyone." Q. Where 
 have you been? Ans. "Out with L. . . 
 to see her folks." 
 
 Dec. 26th. "Edna wants to know 
 when you are going to write some of 
 these truths down, as they ought to be 
 written. You can almost see us, can't 
 you?" 
 
 Dec. 28th. "I am quite a sub for a 
 wireless. H. . was there." Then Euth 
 said, "I am glad I stayed with ma to- 
 night." 
 
 The last paragraph refers to a wreck 
 on the railroad at Dorchester, which 
 delayed me on the w^ay home. We had 
 stopped at the Dorchester station some 
 few minutes. The conductor told us of 
 the trouble ahead, so I decided to get 
 out. I walked up ahead, and found 
 that a fast freight had crashed into an 
 empty passenger train at the siding. 
 It was a bad one, both engines being 
 overturned, and the engineer of one 
 train killed. I knew I would have a 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 75 
 
 long wait if I went home over the rail- 
 road, so took a long war round, which 
 was really the shortest way home, 
 While walking to the car I thought 
 about mother, who would be wondering 
 what was the matter. So I said to my 
 brother, whom I felt was still with me, 
 as well as while at the wreck, "Can you 
 make it plain to mother that there has 
 been trouble, but that I am all right?'' 
 TThen I got home I found that she had 
 received his impression, just as I asked 
 him to give it. This explains his first 
 remark. II . . is a railroad conductor, 
 who passed away early last summer, I 
 think, and who is mentioned in this 
 record a number of times. 
 
 Boy then said, "If I had been as you 
 tonight I should not sleep." 
 
 He was of a nervous temperament 
 while in the body, and anything out of 
 the ordinary would be hard for him to 
 forget. 
 
 Dec. 29th. Some months ago I ex- 
 plained something of this subject to a 
 young man, and wanted to know what 
 he really thought about it. This night 
 I asked Boy how the man really felt, 
 whether he believed it, or did not under- 
 stand it, or was only appearing inter- 
 
76 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 ested for politeness' sake. "He is like 
 lots of others; lialf frightened, and 
 doesn't know what to think. Surely, 
 he is all right." 
 
 December 31. "Now that you know 
 about us, we can laugh, grandma says. 
 The spirit friends never like to see any- 
 thing but happiness, but sometimes we 
 have to see suffering for discipline. 
 Sometimes the wrong person, so you 
 think from that side, suffers. That will 
 all be made clear when the right time 
 comes. (Grallilee was played on the 
 Victrola, in the dark. ) You would al- 
 ways do that if you could see the good 
 influences around fine music." 
 
 Some remark was passed concerning 
 the weather, and in a joking way I 
 asked him how he stood the cold. "Don't 
 feel it. We are not made to feel every 
 physical condition." 
 
 Jan. 1. "Did ma find the article? 
 (On Dec. 30th he told us to read the 
 next day's papers carefully. The "Care- 
 fully" was a joke on mother, who the 
 next day started looking for some 
 small item which would be the one he 
 wanted us to find, when in reality it 
 was a good sized article, concerning 
 communications received from a sol- 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 77 
 
 clier who was killed in the present 
 Avar. ) You know now why we are anx- 
 ious about ray hook. That is the only 
 way I can reach some people. 
 
 "This cannot be kept within any limit. 
 You must not settle down into any self- 
 ish grooves. There is too wide a scope. 
 T...." 
 
 Q. What does he want to say? Ans. 
 "He would like to say a lot if you were 
 ready. v 
 
 T . . . is a man who passed away 
 years ago, and has since given mes- 
 sages through a medium, which I think 
 are out in book form, as part of a col- 
 lection through the same source. 
 
 Jan. 8th. "'Tis love that makes the 
 world go round, Love will rule again 
 some day." 
 
 Jan. 13th. "Earnestly believe in us 
 and we will do all we can to make you 
 realize that we are around." 
 
 Jan. 14th. A very rainy Sunday 
 morning. We as usual Sundays used 
 the board shortly before I went to 
 church. "You must swim this time, 
 Leon. Don't }T>u wish you could be 
 like me? J. . crawled out and 'Took a 
 bit squint out the winder' (Quoting 
 
78 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 from a Scotch song) and said, I am 
 going to stay in." 
 
 In a day or two after this I did re- 
 ceive a letter from the young man men- 
 tioned, who, in the same, said that he 
 had done just as Koy said he had on 
 Sunday morning. 
 
 Before we sat down in the evening 
 Mr. Stevens was reading from a book, 
 concerning the foundations of man's 
 eternal life. "I guess you have as good 
 as any. I think ma will like her pic- 
 ture. (This referred to the painting 
 which was made of him, concerning 
 which more is found in another part of 
 the book. ) 
 
 "T . . . Poor old T . . . He is shaky, but 
 happy* He talks with some of us all 
 the time." 
 
 Jan. 15th. "Every man's belief is 
 right as long as it doesn't leave out 
 God. If it comprises God it cannot 
 fail him. 'No man cometh to the Father 
 but by Me.' " This last was in re- 
 sponse to a mental question by father, 
 as to what constitutes the Christ atti- 
 tude. 
 
 Jan. 16th. "Tell J... I gave him 
 away! (Jan. 13th.) Tell him I was 
 right there that night he felt me, and I 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 79 
 
 wished lie could see me. You ought to 
 see how interested the spirit friends 
 are in mv book." 
 
 Jan. 23. "Now do you see why I sent 
 you to that church? We laughed at 
 ma last summer when she stood on 
 River St., waiting for the Hyde Park 
 car. She had to find out the name of 
 that church. We thought she was 
 going back without seeing." 
 
 The incident referred to happened 
 before mother made her trip out to the 
 place where we now live, concerning 
 which more will be found elsewhere. 
 She came back to Dorchester and said 
 that she had seen a very pretty little 
 church at M . . . , and thought I would 
 like it. 
 
 His first message on January 23rd 
 refers to a statement I made that I felt 
 more at home in that church, than in 
 any other I had ever attended, it seems 
 on account of the highly Spiritual at- 
 mosphere which pervades it, as well as 
 the "Homey" feeling. 
 
 Jan. 24th. "Anarchy and Socialism 
 are slowly meeting the fate that be- 
 longs to such ideas. Pretty weak 
 against such a power as you and many 
 
80 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 others feel. She is feeling mighty mean 
 tonight, but don't worry." 
 
 This referred to a lady of my ac- 
 quaintance, who had been at home, sick 
 for a few days. I had no knowledge as 
 to how sick she was, and asked Roy, 
 with the above result. The next day, 
 I found that she had felt just as he had 
 said, but in a few days more was much 
 better. 
 
 Jan! 26th. "In a nutshell." This 
 meant the writings before you, which 
 he desired put in as condensed form 
 as possible, yet containing enough in- 
 formation to fulfill his purpose. 
 
 "Maybe some folks on this side are 
 not pleased. Go to bed and think about 
 what you have started." This last re- 
 ferring to an important conversation I 
 had that day, concerning the book. 
 
 Jan. 27th. Q. Anything to say about 
 V. . yet? (Naming a Eailroad man 
 who had passed away very suddenly, 
 shortly before. ) 
 
 Ans. "That's what the matter is. 
 Upset the whole crowd. They are all 
 guessing if it will be their turn next." 
 
 The board worked very hard that 
 night, and there seemed to be a strange 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 81 
 
 feeling in the air, which he explained 
 as above. 
 
 Jan. 2Sth. "However you may be 
 tempted, stick to the truth, about these 
 things especially. The whole truth 
 and nothing but the truth goes. Didn't 
 I have fun with you this A. M.? Say, 
 I almost gave up trying to make ma 
 understand. Trying to make you for- 
 get your aches. (This was Sunday 
 morning, and I was sleeping rather 
 later than usual. Mother was on the 
 point of calling me, when my brother 
 told her to "Play a record." She did 
 so, and just as I came downstairs, she 
 put on one humorous song, quite wide- 
 ly known, which deals quite in detail 
 with a lazy Sunday morning, and is the 
 Scotch song referred to some days ago ! 
 Remember, she is not familiar with our 
 system of numbering our record books, 
 and simply took one at random each 
 time. She continued for some time, 
 and we had considerable amusement at 
 the results. His message above gives 
 the reason for doing this unusual 
 "stunt", namely, to help mother to for- 
 get her physical sufferings.) Call 
 Aunt G . . , and tell her to call Hyde 
 Park, also about V..." When I did 
 
82 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 so, I found that my aunt had been call- 
 ing the wrong exchange, consequently 
 could not locate us. This he discover- 
 ed, and corrected as above. 
 
 I speak of this trifling incident mere- 
 ly to show how simple it is for them to 
 straighten us out in any matter, small 
 or otherwise, if we but can get into 
 communication with them. 
 
 "How did you happen to go to Mr. 
 H. ., I wonder? Such a lark. Ma, I 
 am having more fun than I ever did 
 when in the physical body." 
 
 Mr. H. . . is a man to whom I took 
 this work for inspection, and whom T 
 afterwards found knew many of our 
 townspeople. 
 
 I speak of this because it is another 
 illustration of the manner in which we 
 can be guided about in our daily affairs. 
 
 This is a common trick of my broth- 
 er's, to speak afterwards about some- 
 thing I had done, and had not realized 
 at the time that someone was helping 
 me. I am somewhat used to it now^, 
 and when anything out of the ordinary 
 happens, I can usually rely on getting 
 some comment on it, and which some- 
 times brings the laugh on me ! 
 
 Jan. 30th. "I guess when they read 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 83 
 
 niy book, they will say, as A. . . did, 
 that we were inseparable. There is 
 something I am going to tell yon later. 
 A man with a domino says hello. (We 
 thought this was Mr. C . . , who did it 
 for a joke. ) I thought I would spring 
 something original. That was not all. 
 I want to warn yon tAvo. A hold-np. 
 (The sequel to this will be fonnd on 
 February 3rd.) 
 
 Jan. 31. "Uncle H. . says I am qnite 
 a manager. Some one here from More- 
 land St. That babe is a darling. Oh, 
 why don't folks see! 
 
 (Message received here abont the 
 war but it is not neutral. ) "There are 
 
 pthers just the same. . Only one 
 
 of manv. Bnt wait. That is all I am 
 allowed to say. Nuf? O K. Think 
 the best things for that man Wilson." 
 (Kef erring to the war.) 
 
 Feb. 3rd. "Dad broke the latch, or 
 I did. That nail did the trick. You 
 would not have heard him if he hadn't 
 had such a bother with that nail. His 
 name is Ben. He is taller than dad, 
 thinner, and some crook." Q. Did he 
 do any damage elsewhere last night? 
 Ans. "He is too slick. They'll get him. 
 He knows this section. Capt. B. . was 
 
84 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 on." (Eef erring to a former Boston 
 Police Captain. ) Q. Will lie show up 
 again tonight? Ans. "I shall make a 
 racket if he don't." 
 
 On Friday, February 2nd, father 
 came home in the afternoon, with his 
 arms full of bundles, and when he came 
 in, failed to latch the front storm door. 
 He had hardly reached the kitchen, 
 when the door blew back with terrific 
 force, breaking the thumb latch, which 
 passes thro' the door, and lifts the 
 catch. As a substitute, to use in open- 
 ing the door until he could get a new 
 latch, he placed a six inch nail in the 
 hole which formerly held the latch. 
 This of course was awkward in hand- 
 ling. 
 
 That night, at 1:30 A. M., mother 
 woke suddenly, hearing a slight noise, 
 she thought. She rose, to see if by an} r 
 chance it were caused by our cat. He 
 was quiet, but was sitting up, eyes wide 
 open. Mother stood in the upstairs 
 hall a minute, listening. Again came 
 this slight rattle. Quickly she pulled 
 on the light, and called Mr. Stevens. 
 
 On doing so, she heard footsteps hur- 
 rying away over the snow. She did not 
 think to look out the window, until 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 85 
 
 after she had aroused niy father. Then 
 the man had gone. 
 
 This was a case where our spirit 
 friends were "right on the job/' and 
 able to let us know it. We were on the 
 watch for something of the sort, 
 although not thinking of house-break- 
 ing so much as a street hold-up. 
 
 The warning was given us three 
 nights before it happened, and on the 
 day that it was to happen, the door 
 latch, apparently thro 3 an accident, was 
 put into such a condition that an extra- 
 ordinary make-shift had to be used, 
 thereby causing enough noise when the 
 time came, to accomplish their pur- 
 pose! 
 
 To say that we were pleased is put- 
 ting it rather lightly, when we dis- 
 covered that we were "Burglar-proof." 
 
 Another thing. Xone of us got the 
 slightest look at the man, but just the 
 same we got the above description of 
 him, with enough information to satis- 
 fy us that should he attempt it again 
 there would be "Something doing." 
 
 Feb. 4th. "H. . will think this is 
 something he had better have. (Kef er- 
 ring to the attempt to enter our home. ) 
 Congress is busy these days. They 
 
86 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 can't play much. They all feel a great 
 respect for Wilson. Critics are willing 
 to keep still. Yon will hear of a crime 
 committed." 
 
 Feb. 5th. "How did that suit 
 last night? Some Zeppelin, ain't I? 
 
 (The night before we were sitting in 
 the dark for a few minutes, and heard 
 a slight rap on my father's chair, as I 
 thought, and said so when mother ask- 
 ed w r hat it was. The words were hard- 
 ly out of my mouth when we nearly 
 jumped out of our chairs, because there 
 came a terrific crack in the front hall 
 near us. It was more like a pistol shot 
 than it was a rap, and by far the loud- 
 est we have ever had. I suppose he did 
 it to show us how easily he could waken 
 us if need be.) 
 
 "She don't make much noise but .... 
 (We spoke of the little girl then.) She 
 got me all right. You had better be- 
 lieve I was some pleased, and if my 
 breath could have been taken away it 
 sure would." 
 
 Feb. 6th. "Notice tomorrow's pa- 
 pers. Don't worry about what you 
 may see or hear." "Oh, my ! I have got 
 to take my chance quick. Koy is so 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 87 
 
 sober." (Kutli.) "I guess you will 
 tliink so. I said don't worry." 
 
 He seemed very sober this evening, 
 and after quite a personal talk, asked 
 for some music. The next day we of 
 course looked for the papers, and sup- 
 posed for a while that he was disturbed 
 at the war news. 
 
 But when father and I reached home 
 at night, mother showed us the Taun- 
 ton paper, and the death notice of a 
 
 young man named This boy 
 
 was a great friend of Roy's, and we 
 were very familiar with his name, 
 through hearing Ro} r speak of him so 
 many times, while we were in Taunton. 
 This is what sobered him, as will be 
 noticed by the following two days' mes- 
 sages. ,- j if sjjUl 
 
 Feb. 7th. "Now you know about last 
 night. If you were shocked, if possible 
 they were more so, and they do not 
 realize that he is still at home with 
 them. (He meant if we were shocked 
 at the time Roy went, and that we had 
 realized that he was still with us.) 
 
 "I have been watching I 
 
 knew he was coming, and of course I 
 was pleased; but I went to his home 
 and tried to warn them. I think he 
 
88 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 will get near his mother. I can help 
 him, I think." Q. Can we? Ans. 
 "You will know. I have been thinking. 
 He was a good boy, but he should have 
 been home. His mother wanted him 
 home, but he was ambitious. Now give 
 us more music. I can't forget that 
 family." 
 
 Feb. 8th. "S. . W. . was down there 
 with us today. You would not want to 
 be in that house tonight. I shall go 
 with . . . when he wants me to. He 
 wants them to know that he is there, 
 just the same as I did you folks, but 
 their grief is going to make it hard. 
 They are so shocked. Ma, we were 
 more blessed than I can tell you. H. . . 
 You will probably hear from him to- 
 morrow, if all goes right. I may have 
 to go with . . . any time for a while. 
 Sure, S . . . and I were there with 
 others, but we were right there so that 
 he saw us among the first. O K for 
 now. I may have some more later." 
 
 Feb. 9th. " . . . is trying so hard. 
 He feels so good and they feel so bad. 
 It takes the smile all out of him; but 
 his mother stopped and said it can't be 
 so. That is a good beginning. It takes 
 these mothers to find that out. (He 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 89 
 
 seemed to think that as long as . . . 's 
 mother said that it could not be so, that 
 it would not be such a difficult task to 
 have her learn the truth about her 
 boy.) ; i ! 
 
 "Peace is the one cry, now that Wil- 
 son says fight." 
 
 Feb. 10th. "Jerry, a fireman who 
 was killed at a Boston fire comes with 
 H. . M. .. (At this point I called the 
 folk's attention to our cat, who had 
 been racing around, as is usual during 
 some part of nearly every one of our 
 sittings. He was staring up into 
 a corner of the room, near the ceiling, 
 in a very strange manner ; then he sud- 
 denly started and ran upstairs. I re- 
 marked that perhaps my sister had 
 "ducked" down after him.) "I did not 
 duck. I floated. Wouldn't you like to? 
 Why cannot you see if Billy can? When 
 ma shuts her eves at night she can." 
 
 Feb. 11th. "Accident, Blue Hill Av. 
 You will be surprised sometime this 
 week. Watch out for it. (We were, 
 at two separate times.) 
 
 "Lucky ma and I were so much alike 
 now, wasn't it? You would all be stag- 
 gering around, not knowing which way 
 to look for what you now find coming 
 
90 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 your way. Say, that picture on the . . 
 magazine is all right. Ruth laughed 
 at that. It seems so good that we 
 know you are going to listen for us 
 every night and know that we are ready 
 when you are." 
 
 Feb. 12th. We expected company 
 this evening and sat upstairs in Boy's 
 room. While father was reading just 
 as we started, there came a sharp 
 knock just back of my head, on the 
 wall. I jumped, and for fun clapped 
 my hand to the back of my neck and ex- 
 claimed, "Right in the neck !" 
 
 "You bet you, right in the neck, and 
 he can't hit back or smash my derby. 
 (Referring to one time when I pushed 
 his derby down over his head while 
 fooling. ) 
 
 "Did you find out about Blue Hill 
 Ave.? (We puzzled over it for a few 
 minutes, and none could remember see- 
 ing a word in the papers about any- 
 thing of the sort. We usually do this 
 when told of something coming, in the 
 nature of news which is of general 
 interest.) Didn't?" 
 
 Feb. 13th. "Blue Hill Ave. (We 
 had seen nothing yet concerning it.) 
 Oh, say! It ran into Mattapan Sq. ! 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 91 
 
 (Another habit of both him and myself 
 was to come home and spring some- 
 thing of the sort on mother. ) 
 
 "... would hare laughed good, only 
 his folks feel so bad he can't smile. It 
 pleased Patsy when he found out. 
 (This was the fellow spoken of 
 before, who used to frequent the Bail- 
 road station at Boston.) 
 
 "G ... is trying to help .... We want 
 you to compose a letter soon. You 
 three. You want to hear of an acci- 
 dent? Don't be looking for them. My 
 kind are the safest." 
 
 Feb. 14th. "Harry comes and goes. 
 He is a messenger. (This is the little 
 boy who joined our band some few 
 months ago. We were told that he 
 came from Colorado.) He likes to be 
 here only it is hard to make you realize 
 he is around unless we speak his name." 
 
 Feb. 15th. "Watch ye. Stand fast. 
 Quit you like men. Be strong. Oh, 
 say. This is the life, and when Leon 
 has a chance to tell . . .'s folks, I think 
 it will be his sister, we shall feel 
 mighty good. Xow ma, you got what I 
 meant about Kalph. Asa. F . . and B . . 
 will have a chance to think a little. 
 (About the progress shown concerning 
 
92 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 this publication.) O K. Don't forget 
 I am very happy because I am getting 
 where I want to, and . . . says if we 
 will only help him. He comes here 
 with me to see what we do, and to hear 
 the music. O K." 
 
 Feb. 16th. "I've set the ball rolling, 
 and I guess before long they will think 
 I have got the whole alley going. This 
 is going to touch more than one class. 
 That is why I wanted to know every- 
 body. (That was his habit while in 
 the body, to make friends with every- 
 one.) 
 
 Feb. 17th. About an hour before our 
 session this evening we mentioned the 
 name of a New Haven Kailroad en- 
 gineer during the conversation. 
 
 While father was reading and we 
 were in position at the board, waiting, 
 we felt a sharp snap under the little 
 table, something that has happened but 
 once before. When he started he said, 
 "A. . wanted me to do that. (A. . was 
 the engineer mentioned above.) 
 
 "The letter was very gratefully re- 
 ceived. We are glad. Know what 
 that means? You want to know who 
 took Leon upstairs when he wrote his 
 part? a.. S... (The letter is the 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 93 
 
 one he had us send to the family of . . . , 
 mentioned during the last few days, 
 and in which we each had a share in 
 the writing. Gr . . S . . it will be remem- 
 bered is the former Choirmaster men- 
 tioned several times.) Tell them what 
 I've said about it sometime. . . . feels 
 so bad you can't get him away at all. 
 We don't try because we know it takes 
 about so long. Gr. . and I try to help 
 him all we can. Gr . . and I took you to 
 R. . H. .." (Naming a man concerned 
 in the publication of this book.) 
 
 Feb. 18th. "I've made you under- 
 stand a lot in the last 11 months. Aunt 
 J. ., how do you like the chromo?" 
 
 It was Sunday afternoon, and my 
 aunt was visiting us, being present 
 during our sitting. The "chromo" was 
 his picture on the wall in the living- 
 room, and which she had been studying 
 just before he said it. Then the next 
 message was from my little sister, who 
 said, "'Hello, Aunt J... You don't 
 know me, do you? Well, I am like ma 
 when she was little." 
 
 We had a long session today, but it 
 dealt almost entirely with family af- 
 fairs. 
 
 Feb. 19th. "As a man soweth, so 
 
94 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 shall he reap. The book is making an 
 impression. (He meant the manu- 
 script.) Aunt J. . got more than she 
 could carry home. She wants to come 
 again." 
 
 Feb. 20th. "I am glad that mercy is 
 free. Yes, that would be the last thing 
 that many would buy if they had to pay 
 out cash for it." 
 
 He is here referring to the present 
 disturbance over the high cost of living, 
 and takes the opportunity to give a 
 little bit of wisdom. 
 
 He then started in and gave us the 
 following information concerning the 
 present war, and the difficulties which 
 our President is having in order to 
 keep this country safe from serious 
 trouble. I want to take this time to 
 say that Roy was a boy who never be- 
 lieved in fighting, and hated it in 
 others. That is, it disgusted him to see 
 a display of "I'm going to be first" 
 spirit. The following will give, once 
 and for all, his opinion of those who do 
 believe in it, whether they be king or 
 poor man, and will settle the question 
 which many will ask, "Why, if he gives 
 so much information from the other 
 world, does he not speak more about 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 95 
 
 the war, as many a young man would 
 do?" 
 
 "If any one wants to know why I 
 don't talk war, tell him straight from 
 the shoulder that I do not believe in 
 lighting. If all the kings and kaisers 
 that ever breathed in this beautiful 
 world all want to fight to be first, (that 
 is what they really want,) I have not 
 one particle of respect for it. I am 
 worse than Bryan or Henry Ford ever 
 thought of being ; and it is not what the 
 Man of all men would do. And you 
 know, ma, that what I had no respect 
 for, I did not soil my mind or hands 
 with. And I will tell you this, that the 
 ones who are trying to drag the great 
 man at the helm in (President Wilson) 
 have got more than the}^ know anything 
 about to deal with. They don't stop to 
 think. If they could be made to real- 
 ize that they have Abraham Lincoln to 
 reckon with. A man who believed in 
 God, and showed it by his life. You 
 don't have to ask about that. That's 
 all right, ma, we will help you to rest. 
 (The board was working with such 
 speed and apparent power behind it 
 that it was fast tiring her. I myself 
 was feeling unusually strained, if that 
 
96 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 is the way to express it.) And with 
 Lincoln are some of the greatest souls 
 this world has ever known. Don't 
 worry about the H C of L, or the war, 
 because 'God's in His Heaven and all's 
 right with the world' Hello. (This 
 was Kuth. ) O, dear ! I do not like to 
 have Hoy so serious. I took Harry and 
 Marion upstairs to Eoy's room." 
 
 Feb. 21st. "Sleep well last night, 
 ma? Guess you want some more. But 
 we don't think it best." 
 
 It is true, that we hoped he would 
 give us a good session this evening, but 
 it will be seen that he did not think it 
 best. Later we could see why, because 
 mother, although having had a good 
 rest, still was in no condition for a long 
 sitting. I myself had had an unusually 
 hard day at the office, and was quite 
 tired. However, he made up for it on 
 the next day, the 22nd, being a holiday 
 and giving him a good chance to do so. 
 
 "Asa says good evening." (A form- 
 er railroad conductor. ) 
 
 Q. by Mr. Stevens. Is the boat train 
 on time? Ans. "Is it?" "He says, I 
 do not bother with them very often 
 now. Oh, say ! I wish I could tell you 
 a lot that I want to, but she will not let 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 97 
 
 me vet. (Aunt Sara.) She is so fine 
 and calm we want to do as she says. 
 (The next is from Kuth.) He says I 
 must not tire ma tonight. He wants to 
 use her tomorrow. Billy does not want 
 to play. He went upstairs tonight. 
 Dad, I was home. Koy picked them 
 out. (Referring to a pair of slippers 
 bought for mother, and about which 
 father asked a question, as to whether 
 or not she helped him pick them out.) 
 I shall be glad when you all get over on 
 our side. You wait. Better all turn 
 in early. Music first. O K." 
 
 Feb. 22nd. "There shall be no night 
 there, neither sorrow nor suffering. 
 They who are wise will be prepared, 
 for God knoweth all. Nothing can be 
 hidden. Some will have all to learn 
 because they have literally thrown 
 away their time and bodies, and 
 brought dishonor on many, instead of 
 using their God-given talents and abil- 
 ities for what they knew was right. 
 
 "And no other person can stand in 
 your place. You have got to stand on 
 your own feet. Everyone has got to 
 learn their own lessons, either in your 
 life or this one, and the sooner they 
 begin the better it will be for them. 
 
98 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 You can pay with money for anything 
 you want done, except your own soul's 
 salvation; and, that, no man can do 
 for you. i ! | 
 
 "The sooner you realize what the 
 man Christ means to you the better. 
 It has to come to everyone before he 
 begins to learn. 
 
 "If called to war, I think every true 
 American will be ready to do his part. 
 But the mothers ! No one knows how 
 their prayers have ascended to Heaven 
 for a long time now. 
 
 "If there is war in this country many 
 will pass on, and they won't go in the 
 battle. They will go of broken hearts. 
 
 "But don't worry. We know more 
 than we are allowed to tell. 
 
 "I want to get my messages going as 
 soon as you can now, and later I will 
 give more." Here Kuth came on and 
 said, "And now I am coming if Eoy has 
 finished that serious (here she paused 
 a moment or two, while we were won- 
 dering what would be the word she 
 would use) ....stuff. You see how quiet 
 we have been. When Koy looks so 
 serious I go right away because I don't 
 like to bother him. But I shall be glad 
 when he is through with it." Here, 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 99 
 
 Koy came back on and said, "0 K now. 
 She lias told you how she sees your 
 life." 
 
 As you will remember, she has never 
 been in this life, and consequently 
 seems to be able to look on it in its 
 real light, as compared with the real 
 life there. 
 
 Feb. 26th. "Always keep the cross 
 before your mind's eye. It helps out of 
 manY treacherous places." 
 
 Feb. 27th. "Oh, I can't wait, but 
 Aunt ^Nellie said last night I must try 
 and be patient till just the right time 
 comes. (About his book.) Say, you 
 know I've got friends all over the 
 country, and if they hear what I've been 
 doing they will stop, look, and listen. 
 Well, ma is getting so that when she 
 wakes up nights she thinks of the book, 
 and then she thinks some more, and I 
 don't think you will get much for a 
 while but the kind of stuff the kid likes, 
 and you know what that is ! 
 
 "Xow we want some light music that 
 Euth and I both like. She is tired of 
 serious things. I shall be home more 
 now for she wants me to." 
 
 March 1st. "Why isn't Sweden try- 
 ing to fight the United States? Because 
 
100 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 they try to follow the Christ man. 
 Unless they happen to he bad, which is 
 not common." 
 
 March 4th. "Say, he's great. (Kev. 
 Mr. H . . , who passed away very sud- 
 denly last summer.) Saw him today. 
 Made myself known and he said, 'Why, 
 I met your brother at Pilgrim Church. 
 Well, I'm glad to meet you, son, and 
 will you give my love to your brother, 
 and to Mr. and Mrs. W...? Thank 
 you, my boy, and we'll meet again soon, 
 I hope/ (Every word of this sounds 
 just as he would speak, in his hearty, 
 friendly way, and just as I heard him 
 three Sunday nights last early summer, 
 at the Church mentioned. The Mr. and 
 Mrs. W. . . are relatives of ours, who 
 knew Mr. H . . very well and often went 
 to hear him preach.) Now, if Uncle 
 H. . . doesn't believe that's me I will 
 try a more strenuous way ! C . . . says 
 of course he knows it's you, and tell 
 him just to wait till he gets over on this 
 side and we will show him what real 
 living is." 
 
 March 6th. "Generals Lee and Sher- 
 man are on the anxious seat just now, 
 ready for a chance. McKinley is with 
 Wilson, and he says, 'We have been too 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 101 
 
 proud of him to let a few bother him, 
 when they know better, and there is 
 more than one that's got the number, 
 and we are all watching to see when 
 the crisis comes, for come it will. 
 
 'Germany could go on quite a while 
 longer in the way she has been going if 
 the only power was man's, but just so 
 sure as there is a kaiser and a Ger- 
 many, and I must add, a Wilson, so 
 there is an Almighty God to be reckon- 
 ed with, and seeing it from our side it 
 is a different matter/ 
 
 "I should like to say more but you 
 must be patient and just trust, and 
 don't fear for America. Your idea of 
 children playing and learning — and 
 fighting — is what we call pretty near 
 right as we see your life. 
 
 "Now give us some music." 
 
 March 7th. "Hello. Koy is not ready 
 yet so Miss Euth Stevens takes his 
 place, as she does some others! You 
 say war, and I go. I don't like to see 
 or hear one thing about it, dad." (Then 
 Koy.) I am planning your trip to 
 Taunton. Don't think it will be this 
 week. It may. There is a psychological 
 moment for everything, and if people 
 would realize that, there would not be 
 
102 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 nine-tenths of the so-called mistakes 
 made. Six of us made the change 
 (passed over) in a short time, and more 
 coming, I cannot say just how soon. 
 H. . says he don't know as they would 
 believe it if he sends a message, but he 
 would like for them to know that he has 
 been assigned to the work of building 
 up where he tore down, for which he is 
 very glad. He is now trying to help 
 them all, for he thought a great deal 
 more of them than they knew. So he 
 says if your brother wants to he shall 
 be much pleased. Don't think about 
 going, but be so you can go when I tell 
 you. You have got to be wise in your 
 remarks to people about these things. 
 OK." 
 
 March 8th. He gave us the name 
 Eussell this night, and on March 13th, 
 Rye days later, we saw in our paper 
 where a man he used to know, whose 
 name was Eussell, was married, this 
 being the first we knew of it. "Patsy 
 says 'Hello, boy, how are you tonight? 
 Was down along the line Tuesday. Had 
 a little snow.' (Mr. Stevens mention- 
 ed a letter coming from the Hawaiian 
 Islands.) 'It sure was some letter,' 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 103 
 
 He says ; 'Coming from away out there 
 almost off the map.' " 
 
 March 9th. "Good news. I know 
 what it is." The rest of the messages 
 this evening were personal. 
 
 March 10th. "Unknown commits sui- 
 cide. Unknown? Don't go to Tannton 
 tomorrow. Keep your ears open. See 
 more than you say. Lettie. She 
 feels bad every time she thinks about 
 me. Oh, say! Wait till my book gets 
 ready. They will all think I have been 
 fooling them. Say, you ought to have 
 seen .... (A man to whom I wrote a 
 five sheet typewritten letter at Koy's 
 dictation and suggestion, on this sub- 
 ject.) He did not know for a minute 
 whether he was going or coming. You 
 mustn't send a thing like that to a man 
 and expect him to get busy until he gets 
 his wind. (Here it struck me forcibly 
 as to how my letter must have seemed 
 to . . . , and I got to laughing so that I 
 cried. Then Euth came on and said, 
 "Now I think I had better come, for Roy 
 upset you three same as automobiles 
 do." Then when we laughed still hard- 
 er she said, "Did I?" "Oh, my poor 
 Leon, crying. A little music now. O 
 K." 
 
104 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 March 11th. "Hello, Carrie and Leon. 
 How are you? All right I guess, the 
 way things seem around here this A. M. 
 I have been out to see By. Pretty 
 scared, but he don't need to be. Scott 
 and I will be right there when, (he 
 paused). And I guess there will be 
 enough there to call the station for him. 
 (By is a conductor, on the New York, 
 New Haven & Hartford Kailroad, and 
 my uncle. ) He will have to work along 
 a while longer." 
 
 Here Kuth came on and said, "Good 
 morning. I haven't seen much of you 
 folks for a long time. It must be Aye 
 (here she paused) minutes ! ( She was 
 running the board slowly and strange- 
 ly, so as to fool us into thinking it was 
 some one else, and when she said five, 
 she then started down almost to the 
 letter Y, thereby making us think that 
 the word "Years" was coming. You 
 can see how she finished up ! ) 
 
 "Now I am not going to let her upset 
 you this A. M., 'cause I want Leon to 
 go to Church right side up." 
 
 6 :10 P. M. "Dad is going to have a 
 suggestion made to him. 3. Things 
 coming our way. Yours also." 
 
 March 12. "Believe me for the 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 105 
 
 very work's sake. (Kuth now came.) 
 My good people, how noisy the wind is 
 tonight. (Here I remarked how she 
 liked to speak in this way, imitating 
 old-time characters in their speech, and 
 said that she must have been reading- 
 stories.) I have. I guess you would 
 think so if you could see our litera- 
 ture." 
 
 (Roy now came back.) ... is awake, 
 or, conscious, but for heaven's sake 
 don't do that to anyone else ! They are 
 not all as swift as you." 
 
 He referred to the man to whom I 
 sent, at Koy's request, a five page letter 
 on this subject, part of it at Koy's dicta- 
 tion. As near as I can ascertain, it 
 must have been a tremendous surprise 
 to the man, from what Roy has said 
 since. 
 
 March 13th. "Calvin says you must 
 not worry about Byron. He will have 
 plenty to look out for him, but he has 
 been pretty sick. He has got lots of 
 friends both in your life and ours. 
 (Here mother remarked that we had 
 better write tonight. ) That's what we 
 want. I will dictate. (I will give the 
 letter in part, as a fair sample of the 
 way in which he is steadily doing the 
 
106 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 work lie wants to. ) Tell Mm what Cal- 
 vin said, and that Byron, (his son 
 Byron is the one referred to here) 
 Uncle Levi, Scott and Ed all went out 
 to see him, and of course, Grandma. 
 Tell him not to worry and that he 
 better take a good rest. 
 
 "Tell him I hope it will not make him 
 sick to hear from me, as it did one man ! 
 For I am more real than I ever was in 
 that life, and that he need not feel 
 sorry that I shook my old clothes ; and 
 that I never was meant for that life, 
 never was well, and never could have 
 been a strong man. If they had suc- 
 ceeded in patching it up for a time, I 
 would not have been happy, knowing 
 that it was only a matter of time. I 
 am very happy, or will be when I get 
 ma well, and don't be afraid of what 
 you call death. It is life. 
 
 "If you dare read this I may write 
 again some day, but you have been 
 helped many times from this side, or 
 you would not be in that body. See 
 you again, Boy." 
 
 Buth came home then, having appar- 
 ently been out with father, and said, 
 "Hello. O, my, what has Boy said?" 
 
 March 14th. "Do you folks know 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 107 
 
 Harvey ?" He gave us this name a few 
 days before, and we could not place it. 
 On this date Mr. Stevens brought home 
 a magazine with an article in it very 
 interesting to us, and the writer's first 
 name was Harvey. 
 
 "George says how is the boy coming 
 along with the material? Shall not 
 give much tonight. Gave enough last 
 night." 
 
 March 16th. "Give that to some 
 paper tomorrow." (Some material I 
 wrote on this subject. ) Get ready for 
 a long talk Saturday. Think you wiU 
 go to Taunton Sunday. Phil gets his 
 message. 
 
 "... 's folks I want to talk about to- 
 morrow.'' 
 
 March 17th. "I have been there to- 
 day when some of them were there. 
 It's great fun to travel where you like. 
 
 "Do as you please about Taunton. (I 
 had two families whom I found he 
 wanted me to make acquainted with 
 the work we were doing, families in 
 which he knew some member well, and 
 which I planned to visit the next day, 
 if the weather should be at all favor- 
 able. ) 
 
 "Pick out things you think would con- 
 
108 LETTERS PROM ROY 
 
 vince them. Write them down. Not 
 too much. Too much is apt to cause 
 indigestion ! As . . . can testify. 
 
 "Tell , . . 's folks that you have come 
 on a strange mission, but feel that per- 
 haps you might bring them a bit of 
 comfort, especially as you were asked 
 to do it. Tell about our first coming 
 back to Boston, so different. All felt 
 lost." (He gave us a few details as to 
 what he wished made known to them, 
 and the next morning, March 18th, he 
 gave the message for the other young 
 man whom I felt pretty sure I would 
 meet. ) 
 
 March 18th. "Tell P . . if he is there 
 that you have been getting messages 
 from this side ever since, you know 
 when. Tell him I was there that Sun- 
 day (of his own funeral) and helped 
 fix the music, (Which was his custom 
 at Church) but I didn't know who for. 
 I kept asking him but he didn't seem 
 to answer. Tell him I was one of 
 those who met H . . . He is going to help 
 them all as fast as he gets strong 
 enough. Tell them carefully, he says. 
 He says not to doubt. I always told 
 the truth, and this is all truth. I'll go 
 with him, ma, so don't worry !" 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 109 
 
 March 18th, 9 P. M. "Oh, say! I've 
 had some time today. I thought I 
 would split ! ... (Here he mentioned 
 a man's name. This man had approach- 
 ed me during the day, asked me how I 
 was, and suddenly asked, "How is your 
 brother?" I was not sure that I had 
 caught it, and I asked him what he 
 said. He repealed, "How is your broth- 
 er?" And then he thought ! He realized 
 in an instant what he had done, and, 
 although his expression did not change, 
 I saw the whole story in his eyes, and 
 I understood that he would have given 
 worlds to bring the words back, think- 
 ing, naturally, that I would feel hurt 
 at having my brother recalled in such 
 a way. I of course would have, once, 
 but this time I understood just what 
 had happened, and, while I pitied the 
 man, and would have helped him out if 
 I could, still it was not the right time ! 
 
 Strange as it may seem to some, the 
 only thing to spoil the joke, for such it 
 really was, was the fact that the man 
 himself could not be set straight in the 
 matter. 
 
 Some time, though, he will know, and 
 look upon the incident in a different 
 light from that in which he saw it at 
 
110 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 that time. It can easily be seen how 
 it struck Koy, though, for I give his 
 next remark below. ) 
 
 "Some sweet day in the near future 
 he will remember, and guess again." 
 He gave us several personal messages 
 concerning the day's doings, and spoke 
 then about the flowers on the table. 
 
 "Those peas are fine, dad. I've been 
 hustling, and haven't had time before. 
 Old top keeps me spinning." He used 
 to call me this once in a while, and felt 
 so good over the day's work that he 
 could not keep serious. "Now don't 
 worry how things are coming out, ma. 
 All your planning went in a hole. You 
 can't push us." 
 
 March 19th. "How do you like do- 
 ing the world's work? That . . . case 
 puzzles us. We will find a way out, 
 though." 
 
 March 20th. "W. .. That copy, he 
 says, is all right if you change a few 
 little things. You three read it to- 
 gether and we will show you. There 
 are more than just us that want that 
 printed, and we are going to have it. 
 Just be patient." 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 111 
 
 CONCERNING THE PICTUKE. 
 
 It has been a source of great regret 
 to the family that, although a photo- 
 graphic record has been kept of Koy 
 from the age of five up to seventeen 
 years, after which time no photograph 
 existed, to our knowledge, that repre- 
 sented him as he was at the time of his 
 passing. 
 
 On one occasion mother, feeling his 
 influence about her, said, "Oh, Eoy, 
 can't you get me a picture of you as you 
 were?" 
 
 Immediately the impression came 
 strongly to her, "Look in my box." The 
 box is one in which his boyish treas- 
 ures, books, etc., had been packed away. 
 She did so, and found a small Church 
 magazine containing a group photo- 
 graph of the Hector and Choir of the 
 Church he had attended, his face show- 
 ing quite clearly in the back of the 
 group. 
 
 Xone of us knew of the existence of 
 the picture, not having seen the mag- 
 
112 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 azine, and lie not having made mention 
 of it. 
 
 The photographer was located, and a 
 two-inch enlargement obtained. 
 
 The remark was made on the board, 
 "You will get a picture you will like, 
 ma." In the course of a few months 
 an artist reproduced his features in 
 the most lifelike portrait we could 
 wish, this same artist coming to our 
 attention in response to a most urgent 
 request from us, and in an apparently 
 roundabout way. 
 
 I speak of this point, not only as a 
 link in the chain, but as one which is 
 very important to us, and on which, 
 when we so earnestly asked, we obtain- 
 ed the desired result. It teaches one 
 to have faith in all things, great or 
 small, and what we desire, if it is good 
 for us, we shall receive. "Ask, and it 
 shall be given unto you." 
 
 I believe that it is at this point that 
 this first book is to be closed. 
 
 It is our earnest hope that not only 
 a few, but many, may be helped by it, 
 may be given a little insight, which per- 
 haps they did not have before, and 
 thereby know that by living rightly 
 
LETTERS FROM ROY 113 
 
 while here in the body, they may receive 
 their reward when they leave it. 
 
 If we have given anything that has 
 not appealed to some, we trust that all 
 will realize that we give what we have 
 received, and no more. 
 
 If we have helped some to strengthen 
 their faith, we trust that it will not stop 
 there, but that each may do as we have 
 tried to do, in fact were ordered to 
 do — tell others. But, in doing so, 
 just one caution — be careful about the 
 truth, all of it, and nothing else. We 
 realize that distortion is the worst 
 thing that can happen to a conrmunica- 
 tion in passing from one to another, 
 and so on. That, and an inborn desire 
 in some for sensationalism, is what has 
 hurt true Spiritualism far more than 
 anything else in its history. There- 
 fore, remember, as told in this work, to 
 be always careful of the truth. 
 
 One word more, concerning mother. 
 We have been told by Koy that she is 
 doing all they intend to have her do, on 
 account of her poor health, and it has 
 been rather a hard task for her some- 
 times during the past few months, and 
 it must be remembered that all kind 
 thoughts help. 
 
114 LETTERS FROM ROY 
 
 So, if anyone has been cheered by 
 this work, please give her the credit, 
 and think kindly of her, for it is 
 through her close communion with Eoy 
 that the same has been made possible. 
 
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