Bilbo Baggins was turning eleventy-one (111) and announced a birthday party for the Ages. All the Shire was buzzing with excitement. He had been back from his adventure for sixty years and was regarded as extremely eccentric, rich, and well-preserved (unchanged would be more to the point). Many felt he was overly blessed and in the end no good would come of it. All the same because of his legendary wealth (as many supposed he had) they were excited about the party all the same.
Bilbo never married and was friendly with many but had no real close relationships. That is until a cousin of his reached his tweens (the irressponsible 20's according to Hobbits). They shared the same birthday (September 22nd) and Frodo was always Bilbo's favorite relation. Frodo's parents (Drogo and Primula) had died when he was young in a boating accident. So Bilbo had adopted Frodo and named him heir to Bag End which thoroughly angered the Sackville-Bagginses who had never forgiven Bilbo for returning. Adding to the festivity of Bilbo's party was the fact that Frodo was turning 33, coming of age for Hobbits, which only made the event grander.
During this time Ham "Gaffer" Gamgee was in demand. He had been Bilbo's gardener for 40 years being a young lad when he returned from the adventure and passing over the job to his youngest son Sam Gamgee. Many would gather around Gaffer at The Ivy Bush inn for a round of drinks and stories. Gaffer always spoke well of Bilbo. "With perfect truth: for Bilbo was very polite to him, calling him 'Master Hamfast', and consulting him constantly upon the growing of vegetables--in the matter of 'roots', especially potatoes, the Gaffer was recognized as the leading authority by all in the neighborhood (including himself)" (p. 30, The Fellowship of the Ring).
Leading up to the party stories were swapped about Bilbo's character, his riches, the death of Frodo's parents, the disappointment of the Sackville-Bagginses, his strange friends including Dwarves and Gandalf the Wizard, and so on. Sam, it seems, was captivated by Bilbo's tales of adventure which Gaffer did not approve of. "'Elves and Dragons! I says to him. Cabbages and potatoes are better for me and you. Don't go getting mixed up in the business of your betters, or you'll land in trouble too big for you, I says to him'" (p. 32, The Fellowship of the Ring). Spot on advice but the affable Sam proved it was not too big for him.
As the party drew nigh all sorts of carts with strange packages came to Bag End. Some marked with Gandalf's signature rune, others marked DALE on the boxes. Mid-way through September some Dwarves and another guest arrived. "He wore a pointed blue hat, a long grey cloak, and a silver scarf" (p. 33, The Fellowship of the Ring); Gandalf had arrived. Overlooking Bilbo's garden the two old friends talked. Gandalf asked Bilbo if he meant to go through with his plan and Bilbo confirmed, including his little joke at the end. Gandalf sighed seemingly in disapproval.
The next week orders went out all over the Shire for all sorts of food, supplies, and services. Then invitations went out to nearly all in the Shire (a few were forgotten but no matter; they came anyway). The excitement was at a fevered-pitch. Bilbo had to erect a sign "NO ADMITTANCE EXCEPT ON PARTY BUSINESS" (p. 34, The Fellowship of the Ring). Tents, pavillions, gates, and an open air kitchen went up in the field by Bag End.
"Then the weather clouded over. That was on Wednesday the eve of the Party. Anxiety was intense. Then Thursday, September the 22nd, actually dawned. The sun got up, the clouds vanished, flags were unfurled and the fun began" (p. 34, The Fellowship of the Ring). Bilbo greeted all guests at the gate. As was Hobbit custom on birthdays he gave gifts to all who came (and more to some who got back in line). You stood a good chance of getting a gift at least once a week in Hobbiton and though they weren't much the people loved them. Bilbo's gifts were, however, altogether better than anything they had seen. "Many of them had indeed been ordered a year before, and had come all the way from the Mountain and from Dale, and were of real dwarf-make" (p. 35, The Fellowship of the Ring).
Three official meals were served. There was song and dance. And of course fireworks. "The fireworks were by Gandalf: they were not only brought by him, but designed and made by him; and the special effects, set pieces, and flights of rockets were let off by him. But there were also generous distributions of squibs, crackers, backarappers, sparklers, torches, dwarf-candles, elf-fountains, goblin-barkers, and thunder-claps. The art of Gandalf improved with age" (p. 35, The Fellowship of the Ring). Flowers, butterflies, eagles, and ships, among other effects, flew through the sky. "And there was one last surprise, in honour of Bilbo, and it startled the hobbits exceedingly, as Gandalf intended" (p. 36, The Fellowship of the Ring). This of course was a rocket designed to appear like Smaug when ignited sending frightened hobbits running and falling every which way.
The final dinner was served followed by the speech (which none were looking forward to). Everyone ate well but at the great pavilion a select 144 guests ate with Bilbo and Frodo. They ate so well in fact that they were quite ready to listen to Bilbo as they finished "filling up the corners" (p. 37, The Fellowship of the Ring). Bilbo started well acknowledging the guests and thanking them for coming. When he mentioned he had brought them for a purpose ears pricked up. Or three rather. the first was to express his great fondness for his fellow hobbits which was very much appreciated until he said: "'I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.' This was unexpected and rather difficult. There was some scattered clapping, but most of them were trying to work it out and see if it came to a compliment" (p. 38, The Fellowship of the Ring). I laugh every time I read that or see it in the film.
The second purpose was of course to celebrate both he and Frodo's birthday. Together they totalled 144 years, One Gross, the reason why 144 were selected to sit with them. Of course to refer to people as gross was very uncouth. "No cheers. This was ridiculous" (p. 38, The Fellowship of the Ring). Bilbo continued recounting that 60 years ago he was arriving at Esgorath (Lake-town) by barrel. "Obstinate silence. They all feared that a song or some poetry was now imminent; and they were getting bored" (p. 38, The Fellowship of the Ring). But Bilbo intentioned to say only a little more.
Bilbo declared his third purpose: to say goodbye. Upon saying goodbye he vanished to the astonishment of all who were watching. "There was a blinding flash of light, and the guests all blinked. When they opened their eyes Bilbo was nowhere to be seen" (p. 39, The Fellowship of the Ring). Most everyone thought the joke in bad taste and even Frodo who was in the know thought something was odd about it. But to quell the unrest Frodo ordered another round of wine served while he pondered all that Bilbo had just said and done.
"As for Bilbo Baggins, even while he was making his speech, he had been fingering the golden ring in his pocket: his magic ring that he had kept secret for so many years. As he stepped down he slipped it on his finger, and he was never seen by any hobbit in Hobbiton again" (p. 39-40 The Fellowship of the Ring).
Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3001, September
Today's reading comes from: The Fellowship of the Ring, pages 29-40
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