Dear Sam,

I'm almost done translating the story! It's amazing what one can get done while lying in bed. I'm almost all better, but Merry's fever got worse this morning, so he had to go back to his room and stay there. Aunt Esme said I can get up now, just so long as I don't get sick again from Merry. Oh, Sam, what am I to do with you? Don't say I can't compare you to Bilbo. Of course I can! You both took me in and looked after me when I moved, and hardly anyone else in Hobbiton has done so. Aunt Esme says that if Merry doesn't get better soon, they'll send me home, because they don't want two of us sick again. So I may be home sooner than I expected. At any rate, I'll be home before you're out of bed, so I can come read to you and keep you company. Merry's animals didn't give up in their adventures. They had a very good adventure trying to find the mathom room, and going through all the old mathoms trying to find something valuable. Though we did run into a dragon! (My Uncle Sara, of course, found us a dragon for the stuffed animals to fight) Merry was so glad of that! Lotho and Ted in the same room? I think I'd be too frightened to try that! The two of them together would be a very frightening thing. I'll be home soon, my Sam.

Your friend,

Frodo