Fetching Frodo

            Fetching Frodo.  He was doing it at long last.  How had he managed to be convinced, year after year, to leave the poor lad be, there in Brandy Hall?  True, they were his mother’s people.  But, still, Menegilda had almost smothered the dear boy.  Bilbo hoped he wasn’t too late to save the child’s spirit!

            Then he remembered the look in Frodo’s eyes as he’d insisted that the Sackville-Bagginses not be advised of the proposed adoption.  No, he decided, there was spirit in the lad yet.  He smiled as he thought of all the lessons he could give in Elvish….