The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-03-31
WOOING A WHOEVER.
Many Widows Willing to Persuade Farmer
Layman That Life Is Worth Living.

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Layman That Life Is Worth Living.
Levi Layman. an aged farmer who dwells
near Callicoon, N. Y, is a dreamer of dreams
and a seer of visions Farmer Layman is
rather discredited as seer now, however.
for 1.-The greatest dream of his life," in
which his first wife appeared to him and
told hin, he was to die on Nov. Z, 1898, failed
to come true. Farmer Layman believed
implicitly in it, He neglected to plant any
crops last year; he shade his will, digged his
grave and prepared his spirit for immor
tally His story was telegraphed all over
the cou,,sry and was widely commented on,
but Now came and went, and the news
papers were not called on to record his
DEATH Farmer Layman stills lives-and
wonders
A New York Herald reporter called on
Levi the other day and here is his account
of his visit: Farmer Jayman is al unusual
" tall man. His long white beard and hair
present All unkempt appearance His fea
lures are punched and sunken, and his poor
frame was thnly clad with an old suit
which he had pieced with cloth of various
hues. He Is cons.antly troubled with a Sc
we're cough which, with his rheumatic diff
ficulties, makes life 4 burden. l asked him
about his recent offers of marriage. Eyes, F"
he said. II have received some letters from
different parts Of the world, and some OF
the writer's evidently think l am fool"
Are they very tender epistles?" l in
quired.
"Oh. some of the women write great
deal Of nonsense, and they ask me to write
to them, but ] have never answered but
one of them and never shall. have some
of the letters here. and you can see them"
"Dr. Amy Smith" of Dayton, O., writes
a brief but touching appeal TO Farmer Lay
man to cheer him and assures him if he
will go and see her she will help him and
show the poor man how she loves him.
Mrs. J. F. Swazey Of Brooklyn fills five
ordinary letter pages in telling Farmer
Iayman how she is concerned about him.
She does not think there is Il person in the
world who has had as many trials and trou-
bles as she has, and yet she lives. She as
sures the old farmer she has no confidence
in visions of dead friends, but believes
in future state Of hleSSedness for the good
and wants to 90 all she can to help him.
She has already buried two husbands and
two children, and having hard time to
get along would of course not refuse the
offer of Il good home and an agreeable COM
panion. At any rate she is very anxious to
hear from Layman at Ills earliest opportu-
nifty.
A woman in Highland, n. Y, is very So
licitous for the invalid's welfare and wants
to see him when she can and recommends
Il remedy for his rheumatism.
''Have you had any more visions lately.
Mr.. Layman."
mo, not exactly visions l continue to
have very strange dreams, and they have
generally meant something to me III the
past Only The other night l thought was
in the presence Of Il large company, and
walked on the ceiling like ty.'
"Then you are d believer in dreams rs
well as 'visions?'"
Certainly do not see why people
should think SO strange of that and call me
a fool, as some do. Talmage, the great
Brooklyn y eacher, believes in visions and
dreams. Is ne a fool?''
''How (u you account for the failure o:
your 'visiuu:'" asked.
II do not know just what to think OF 1t.
Perhaps am to remain here a few years
longer. If SO, all right. One thing is GER
tain, thought have no desire to marry an
old lady. AS some of them doubtless i'm
agine. Perhaps if could find Il young wo
man-young enough to take care of me-
might talk with her
Before left the old gentleman, anxious
to impress me with his ability to do house
work, exhibited several loaves of bread he
had recently baked and declared that l. !,
could get along quite comfortably without
q housekeepcr. He is a great reader and a
Bible student. He has been twice married,
his first wife dying 81 years ago and hissec-
md nj voo PC 400