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dark and narrow cell。 She insisted on hobbling out on her own feet； and she had such a wele；
and there was such clapping and cheering when she appeared； leaning on Frodo's arm but still
clutching her umbrella； that she was quite touched； and drove away in tears。 She had never in her
life been popular before。 But she was crushed by the news of Lotho's murder； and she would' not
return to Bag End。 She gave it back to Frodo； and went to her own people； the Bracegirdles of
Hardbottle。
When the poor creature died next Spring…she was after all more than a hundred years old –
Frodo was surprised and much moved： she had left all that remained of her money and of Lotho's
for him to use in helping hobbits made homeless by the troubles。 So that feud was ended。
Old Will Whitfoot had been in the Lockholes longer than any； and though he had perhaps been
treated less harshly than some； he needed a lot of feeding up before he could look the part of Mayor；
so Frodo agreed to act as his Deputy； until Mr。 Whitfoot was in shape again。 The only thing that he
did as Deputy Mayor was to reduce the Shirriffs to their proper functions and numbers。 The task of
hunting out the last remnant of the ruffians was left to Merry and Pippin； and it was soon done。 The
southern gangs； after hearing the news of the Battle of Bywater； fled out of the land and offered
little resistance to the Thain。 Before the Year's End the few survivors were rounded up in the woods；
and those that surrendered were shown to the borders。
Meanwhile the labour of repair went on apace； and Sam was kept very busy。 Hobbits can work
like bees when the mood and the need es on them。 Now there were thousands of willing hands
of all ages； from the small but nimble ones of the hobbit lads and lasses to the well…worn and horny
ones of the gaffers and gammers。 Before Yule not a brick was left standing of the new Shirriff…
houses or of anything that had been built by 'Sharkey's Men'； but the bricks were used to repair
many an old hole； to make it snugger and drier。 Great stores of goods and food； and beer； were
found that had been hidden away by the ruffians in sheds and barns and deserted holes； and
especially in the tunnels at Michel Delving and in the old quarries at Scary； so that there was a
great deal better cheer that Yule than anyone had hoped for。
One of the first things done in Hobbiton； before even the removal of the new mill； was the
clearing of the Hill and Bag End； and the restoration of Bagshot Row。 The front of the new sand…pit
was all levelled and made into a large sheltered garden； and new holes were dug in the southward
face； back into the Hill； and they were lined with brick。 The Gaffer was restored to Number Three；
and he said often and did not care who heard it：
'It's an ill wind as blows nobody no good； as I always say。 And All's well as ends Better！'
There was some discussion of the name that the new row should be given。 _Battle Gardens_ was
thought of； or _Better Smials_。 But after a while in sensible hobbit…fashion it was just called _New
Row_。 It was a purely Bywater joke to refer to it as Sharkey's End。
The trees were the worst loss and damage； for at Sharkey's bidding they had been cut down
recklessly far and wide over the Shire； and Sam grieved over this more than anything else。 For one
thing； this hurt would take long to heal； and only his great…grandchildren； he thought； would see the
Shire as it ought to be。
Then suddenly one day； for he had been too busy for weeks to give a thought to his adventures；
he remembered the gift of Galadriel。 He brought the box out and showed it to the other Travellers
（for so they were now called by everyone）； and asked their advice。
'I wondered when you would think of it；' said Frodo。 'Open it！'
Inside it was filled with a grey dust； soft and fine； in the middle of which was a seed； like a
small nut with a silver shale。 'What can I do with this？' said Sam。
'Throw it in the air on a breezy day and let it do its work！' said Pippin。
'On what？' said Sam。
'Choose one spot as a nursery； and see what happens to the plants there；' said Merry。
'But I'm sure the Lady would not like me to keep it all for my own garden； now so many folk
have suffered；' said Sam。
'Use all the wits and knowledge you have of your own； Sam；' said Frodo； 'and then use the gift to
help your work and better it。 And use it sparingly。 There is not much here； and I expect every grain
has a value。'
So Sam planted saplings in all the places where specially beautiful or beloved trees had been
destroyed； and he put a grain of the precious dust in the soil at the root of each。 He went up and
down the Shire in this labour； but if he paid special attention to Hobbiton and Bywater no one
blamed him。 And at the end he found that he still had a little of the dust left； so he went to the
Three…Farthing Stone； which is as near the centre of the Shire as no matter； and cast it in the air
with his blessing。 The little silver nut he planted in the Party Field where the tree had once been；
and he wondered what would e of it。 All through the winter he remained as patient as he could；
and tried to restrain himself from going round constantly to see if anything was happening。
Spring surpassed his wildest hopes。 His trees began to sprout and grow； as if time was in a hurry
and wished to make one year do for twenty。 In the Party Field a beautiful young sapling leaped up：
it had silver bark and long leaves and burst into golden flowers in April。 It was indeed a _mallorn_；
and it was the wonder of the neighbourhood。 In after years； as it grew in grace and beauty； it was
known far and wide and people would e long journeys to see it： the only _mallorn_ west of the
Mountains and east of the Sea； and one of the finest in the world。
Altogether 1420 in the Shire was a marvellous year。 Not only was there wonderful sunshine and
delicious rain； in due times and perfect measure； but there seemed something more： an air of
richness and growth； and a gleam of a beauty beyond that of mortal summers that flicker and pass
upon this Middle…earth。 All the children born or begotten in that year； and there were many； were
fair to see and strong； and most of them had a rich golden hair that had before been rare among
hobbits。 The fruit was so plentiful that young hobbits very nearly bathed in strawberries and cream；
and later they sat on the lawns under the plum…trees and ate； until they had made piles of stones like
small pyramids or the heaped skulls of a conqueror； and then they moved on。 And no one was ill；
and everyone was pleased。 except those who had to mow the grass。
In the Southfarthing the vines were laden； and the yield of 'leaf' was astonishing； and
everywhere there was so much corn that at Harvest every barn was stuffed。 'The Northfarthing
barley was so fine that the beer of 1420 malt was long remembered and became a byword。 Indeed a
generation later one might hear an old gaffer in an inn； after a good pint of well…earned ale； put
down his mug with a sigh： 'Ah！ that was proper fourteen…twenty； that was！'
Sam stayed at first at the Cottons' with Frodo； but when the New Row was ready he went with
the Gaffer。 In addition to all his other labours he was busy directing the cleaning up and restoring
of Bag End； but he was often away in the Shire on his forestry work。 So he was not at home in
early March and did not know that Frodo had been ill。 On the thirteenth of that month Farmer
Cotton found Frodo lying on his bed； he was clutching a white gem that hung on a chain about his
neck and he seemed half in a dream。
'It is gone for ever；' he said； 'and now all is dark and empty。'
But the fit passed； and when Sam got back on the twenty…fifth； Frodo had recovered； and he said
nothing about himself。 In the meanwhile Bag End had been set in order； and Merry and Pippin
came over from Crickhollow bringing back all the old furniture and gear； so that the old hole soon
looked very much as it always had done。
When all was at last ready Frodo said： 'When are you going to move in and join me； Sam？'
Sam looked a bit awkward。
'There is no need to e yet； if you don't want to；' said Frodo。 'But you know the Gaffer is
close at hand； and he will be very well looked after by Widow Rumble。'
It s not that； Mr。 Frodo； said Sam； and he went very red。
'Well； what is it？'
'It's Rosie； Rose Cotton；' said Sam。 'It seems she didn't like my going abroad at all； poor lass； but
as I hadn't spoken； she couldn't say so。 And I didn't speak； because I had a job to do first。 But now I
have spoken； and she says： 〃Well； you've wasted a year； so why wait longer？〃 〃Wasted？〃 I says。 〃I
wouldn't call it that。〃 Still I see what she means。 I feel torn in two； as you might say。'
'I see；' said Frodo： 'you want to get married； and yet you want to live with me in Bag End too？
But my dear Sam； how easy！ Get married as soon as you can； and then move in with Rosie。 There's
room enough in Bag End for as big a family as you could wish for。'
And so it was settled。 Sam Gamgee married Rose Cotton in the Spring of 1420 （which was also
famous for its weddings）； and they came and lived at Bag End。 And if Sam thought himself lucky；
Frodo knew that he was more lucky himself； for there was not a hobbit in the Shire that was looked
after with such care。 When the labours of repair had all been planned and set going he took to a
quiet life； writing a great deal and going through all his notes。 He resigned the office of Deputy
Mayor at the Free Fair that mid…summer； and dear old Will Whitfoot had another seven years of
presiding at Banquets。
Merry and Pippin lived together for some time at Crickhollow； and there was much ing and
going between Buckland and Bag End。 The two young Travellers cut a great dash in the Shire with
their songs and their tales and their finery； and their wonderful parties。 'Lordly' folk called them；
meaning nothing but good； for it warmed all hearts to see them go riding by with their mail…shirts
so bright and their shields so splendid； laughing and singing songs of far away； and if they were
now large and magnificent； they were unchanged otherwise； unless they were indeed more
fairspoken and more jovial and full of merriment than ever before。
Frodo and Sam； however； went back to ordinary attire； except that when there was need they
both wore long grey cloaks； finely woven and clasped at the throat with beautiful brooches； and Mr。
Frodo wore always a white jewel on a chain that he often would finger。
All things now went well； with hope always of being still better； and Sam was as busy and
as full of delight as even a hobbit could wish。 Nothing for him marred that whole year； except for
some vague anxiety about his master。 Frodo dropped quietly out of all the doings of the Shire； and
Sam was pained to notice how little honour he had in his own country。 Few people knew or wanted
to know about his deeds and adventures； their admiration and respect were given mostly to Mr。
Meriadoc and Mr。 Peregrin and （if Sam had known it） to himself。 Also in the autumn there
appeared a shadow of old troubles。
One evening Sam came into the study and found his master looking very strange。 He was very
pale and his eyes seemed to see things far away。
'What's the matter； Mr。 Frodo？' said Sam。
'I am wounded；' he answered； 'wounded； it will never really heal。'
But then he got up； and the turn seemed to pass； and he was quite himself the next day。 It was
not until afterwards that Sam recalled that the date was October the sixth。 Two years before on that
day it was dark in the dell under Weathertop。
Time went on； and 1421 came in。 Frodo was ill again in March； but with a great effort he
concealed it； for Sam had other things to think about。 The first of Sam and Rosie's children was
born on the twenty…fifth of March； a date that Sam noted。
'Well； Mr。 Frodo；' he said。 'I'm in a bit of a fix。 Rose and me had settled to call him Frodo； with
your leave； but it's not _him_； it's