His first book to win attention was “The Hoosier Schoolmaster” (1871), which first appeared as a serial in _Hearth and Home_. Having read Taine’s “Art in the Netherlands,” he says, he proceeded to apply Taine’s maxim, that an artist ought to paint what he has seen. The result was so faithful a picture that in spite of its faults it has a permanent value as a record of one phase of early Western life. Dr. Eggleston also wrote “The End of the World” (1872), which deals with the Millerites, who in 1842-3 proved by the Book of Daniel that the end of the world was at hand; “The Mystery of Metropolisville” (1873); “The Circuit Rider, a Tale of the Heroic Age” (1874), in which he drew on his own early experiences; “Roxy” (1878), a story of picturesque incident and character development laid in the time of the Tippecanoe campaign of 1840; “The Graysons, a Story of Illinois” (1888), a realistic picture of pioneer life in which Abraham Lincoln figures as a character; “The Faith Doctor” (1891), which deals with Christian Science and kindred phenomena in New York, and which shows the influence of Mr. Howells; and “Duffels” (1893), a collection of stories. Dr. Eggleston himself spoke of his attitude in literature as a constant struggle “between the lover of literary art and the religionist, the reformer, the philanthropist, the man with a mission.” We are not of course surprised to find an editor of _The Sunday School Teacher_ making his moral too prominent. But while this mars much of his work, his novels may still be said to be fresh and genuine transcripts of life.