(C) The Lord of the rings
#middleearthinspired #tolkieninspired
This book is largely concerned with Hobbits, and from its pages a reader may discover much of their character and a little of their history.
#middleearthinspired #tolkieninspired
This book is largely concerned with Hobbits, and from its pages a reader may discover much of their character and a little of their history.
...nothing very notable occurred in the Shire until Mr. Baggins began the preparations for the celebration of his hundred-and-eleventh birthday (S.R. 1401). At this point this History begins.
When Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End
announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy-first
birthday with a party of special magnificence, there was much talk
and excitement in Hobbiton.
Bilbo was very rich and very peculiar,
and had been the wonder of the Shire for sixty years, ever since his
remarkable disappearance and unexpected return. The riches he had
brought back from his travels had now become a local legend, and it
was popularly believed, whatever the old folk might say, that the
Hill at Bag End was full of tunnels stuffed with treasure.
‘A very nice well-spoken gentlehobbit
is Mr. Bilbo, as I’ve always said,’ the Gaffer declared. With
perfect truth: for Bilbo was very polite to him, calling him ‘Master
Hamfast’, and consulting him constantly upon the growing of
vegetables. Both father and son Gamgee were on very friendly terms with Bilbo and Frodo. They lived on the Hill itself, in Number 3 Bagshot Row just below Bag End.
Inside Bag End, Bilbo and Gandalf were
sitting at the open window of a small room looking out west on to the
garden.
‘Yes,’ said Bilbo. ‘I am very
fond indeed of it, and of all the dear old Shire; but I think I need
a holiday.’
‘You mean to go on with your plan
then?’
‘I do. I made up my mind months ago,
and I haven’t changed it.’
‘Very well. It is no good saying any
more. Stick to your plan — your whole plan, mind — and I hope it
will turn out for the best, for you, and for all of us.’
‘I hope so. Anyway I mean to enjoy
myself on Thursday, and have my little joke.’
‘Who will laugh, I wonder?’ said
Gandalf, shaking his head.
‘We shall see,’ said Bilbo.
‘Well, I’ve made up my mind,
anyway. I want to see mountains again, Gandalf — mountains ;
and then find somewhere where I can rest . In peace and quiet,
without a lot of relatives prying around, and a string of confounded
visitors hanging on the bell. I might find somewhere where I can
finish my book. I have thought of a nice ending for it: and he
lived happily ever after to the end of his days. ’
Gandalf laughed.
Frodo came in soon afterwards, and
found him sitting in the dark, deep in thought. ‘Has he gone?’ he
asked.
Gandalf said, - ‘Don’t be too troubled. He’ll be all right — now. He left a packet for you. There it is!’
Frodo took the envelope from the mantelpiece, and glanced at it, but did not open it.
‘You’ll find his will and all the other documents in there, I think,’ said the wizard. ‘You are the master of Bag End now. And also, I fancy, you’ll find a golden ring.’
‘The ring!’ exclaimed Frodo. ‘Has he left me that? I wonder why. Still, it may be useful.’
‘It may, and it may not,’ said Gandalf. ‘I should not make use of it, if I were you. But keep it secret, and keep it safe! Now I am going to bed.’
Night slowly passed. The sun rose. The hobbits rose rather later. Morning went on. By mid-day, there was a large crowd at Bag End, uninvited but not unexpected. Frodo was waiting on the step, smiling, but looking rather tired and worried. His reply to all inquiries was simply this: ‘Mr. Bilbo Baggins has gone away; as far as I know, for good.’ Some of the visitors he invited to come inside, as Bilbo had left ‘messages’ for them. Inside in the hall there was piled a large assortment of packages and parcels and small articles of furniture. On every item there was a label tied.
There was plenty of everything left for Frodo. And, of course, all the chief treasures, as well as the books, pictures, and more than enough furniture, were left in his possession. There was, however, no sign nor mention of money or jewellery.
A false rumour that the whole household was being distributed free spread like wildfire; and before long the place was packed with people who had no business there, but could not be kept out. In the middle of the commotion the Sackville-Bagginses arrived. Frofo escorted Lobelia firmly off the premises, after he had relieved her of several small (but rather valuable) articles that had somehow fallen inside her umbrella.
Frodo had hardly sat down, when there came a soft knock at the front-door. The knock was repeated, much louder, but he took no notice. Suddenly the wizard’s head appeared at the window.
‘If you don’t let me in, Frodo, I shall blow your door right down your hole and out through the hill,’ he said.
‘My dear Gandalf! Half a minute!’ cried Frodo, running out of the room to the door. ‘Come in! Come in! I thought it was Lobelia.’
‘Then I forgive you. But I saw her some time ago, driving a pony-trap towards Bywater with a face that would have curdled new milk.’
- She had already nearly curdled me. Honestly, I nearly tried on Bilbo’s ring. I longed to disappear.’
‘Don’t do that!’ said Gandalf, sitting down. ‘Do be careful of that ring, Frodo! I say again: keep it safe, and keep it secret! I shan’t often be visiting the Shire openly again. I find that I have become rather unpopular. They say I am a nuisance and a disturber of the peace. Some people are actually accusing me of spiriting Bilbo away, or worse.Goodbye now! Take care of yourself!
Frodo saw him to the door. He gave a final wave of his hand, and walked off at a surprising pace. The evening was closing in, and his cloaked figure quickly vanished into the twilight. Frodo did not see him again for a long time.
Bilbo paused, silent for a moment. Then
without another word he turned away from the lights and voices in the
field and tents, and followed by his three companions went round into
his garden, and trotted down the long sloping path. He jumped over a
low place in the hedge at the bottom, and took to the meadows,
passing into the night like a rustle of wind in the grass.
Gandalf remained for a while staring
after him into the darkness. ‘Good-bye, my dear Bilbo — until our
next meeting!’ he said softly and went back indoors.
Gandalf said, - ‘Don’t be too troubled. He’ll be all right — now. He left a packet for you. There it is!’
Frodo took the envelope from the mantelpiece, and glanced at it, but did not open it.
‘You’ll find his will and all the other documents in there, I think,’ said the wizard. ‘You are the master of Bag End now. And also, I fancy, you’ll find a golden ring.’
‘The ring!’ exclaimed Frodo. ‘Has he left me that? I wonder why. Still, it may be useful.’
‘It may, and it may not,’ said Gandalf. ‘I should not make use of it, if I were you. But keep it secret, and keep it safe! Now I am going to bed.’
Night slowly passed. The sun rose. The hobbits rose rather later. Morning went on. By mid-day, there was a large crowd at Bag End, uninvited but not unexpected. Frodo was waiting on the step, smiling, but looking rather tired and worried. His reply to all inquiries was simply this: ‘Mr. Bilbo Baggins has gone away; as far as I know, for good.’ Some of the visitors he invited to come inside, as Bilbo had left ‘messages’ for them. Inside in the hall there was piled a large assortment of packages and parcels and small articles of furniture. On every item there was a label tied.
There was plenty of everything left for Frodo. And, of course, all the chief treasures, as well as the books, pictures, and more than enough furniture, were left in his possession. There was, however, no sign nor mention of money or jewellery.
A false rumour that the whole household was being distributed free spread like wildfire; and before long the place was packed with people who had no business there, but could not be kept out. In the middle of the commotion the Sackville-Bagginses arrived. Frofo escorted Lobelia firmly off the premises, after he had relieved her of several small (but rather valuable) articles that had somehow fallen inside her umbrella.
Frodo had hardly sat down, when there came a soft knock at the front-door. The knock was repeated, much louder, but he took no notice. Suddenly the wizard’s head appeared at the window.
‘If you don’t let me in, Frodo, I shall blow your door right down your hole and out through the hill,’ he said.
‘My dear Gandalf! Half a minute!’ cried Frodo, running out of the room to the door. ‘Come in! Come in! I thought it was Lobelia.’
‘Then I forgive you. But I saw her some time ago, driving a pony-trap towards Bywater with a face that would have curdled new milk.’
- She had already nearly curdled me. Honestly, I nearly tried on Bilbo’s ring. I longed to disappear.’
‘Don’t do that!’ said Gandalf, sitting down. ‘Do be careful of that ring, Frodo! I say again: keep it safe, and keep it secret! I shan’t often be visiting the Shire openly again. I find that I have become rather unpopular. They say I am a nuisance and a disturber of the peace. Some people are actually accusing me of spiriting Bilbo away, or worse.Goodbye now! Take care of yourself!
Frodo saw him to the door. He gave a final wave of his hand, and walked off at a surprising pace. The evening was closing in, and his cloaked figure quickly vanished into the twilight. Frodo did not see him again for a long time.
(C) The Lord of the rings
#middleearthinspired #tolkieninspired
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