Strafford Vt. Oct. 23, 1874
Prst. Buckham,
Burlington, Vt
My dear Sir: Sitting up to see
the Moon eclipsed--not a hard job--
the eclipse I mean, though 2 o'clock
strains a little--I have easily kept
awake by reading your address to
the Dairymen, and I wish it had
been longer. For my purposes it would
have been better so, but I only began
to say, if I can ever get to it, that
the address was excellent and I have

not a doubt it will do good. I
regret that I could not make my
plans so as to have been with you
at the Capital this week, but I
was there last week and then found
no purpose on the part of anyone
to strew the path of our Vt. U. & A.C
with briars. There may something
crop out yet but I doubt it.
I see that one of the "leaders"
of the House proposes something
handsome, but I fear the envy of
some poor d--l (that means when
fully written out ) will propose
a rider that will break it down that
is to say, will propose help for everybody.

Universal generosity never does anything for
anybody in particular but sheds quarts
of tears for misery everywhere.
But the address--it good. I am
expecting the eclipse. But I trust no
dark body will get betwixt you and the
Legislature.
Very truly yours
Justin S. Morrill
P.S. Pray pardon the moonstruck fancies
of the preceding. I sat up until I
had a full view.