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Number Three, Bagshot Row  by GamgeeFest 10 Review(s)
nancylea57Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 12/5/2008
some things need explained before you let little ones come help, he got a nice second chance with sammy and saved the day beautifully; but i must say i really really liked goldies impulses, her come back fishy could be a classic watercolor if someone had the talent.

Author Reply: Hamfast wouldn't have thought about needing to explain the Balance of Nature beforehand. After all, that wasn't how his own father had done it and neither he nor his siblings were traumatized by the experience. Neither had been Hamson or Halfred. Things were somewhat different with Sam, but he did save the day rather well - proof that he's grown quite comfortable into his role as single parent, whether he realizes it or not.

Goldie was just trying to help the fish. How was she to know that fish don't speak Hobbit? ;) Seems Gaffer should have had that talk with her beforehand too!

Baggins BabeReviewed Chapter: 17 on 6/30/2008
This was adorable! How wise of Hamfast to explain fishing and the balance of Nature to Sam in gardening terms.he is a very wise father.

I loved Sam's concern for the fish, and Goldie releasing one and then calling it to come back was hilarious.

I love your Gamgee family.

Author Reply: Hamfast realized that Sam needed to work things out on his own, and he knew that gardening was something Sam already understood. Gaffer may not realize it, but he’s not pretending to know what he’s doing anymore. Goldie is a sweetie, she just wanted to help the fish out. ;)
Thanks for reading!

AltheaReviewed Chapter: 17 on 6/29/2008
Sam has such a sensitive soul. His first fishing experience could have become a disaster but for the Gaffer's patience and understanding. The Gamgee children are adorable. The Gaffer is doing a wonderful job raising them alone. I love these stories.

Author Reply: Sam does have a soft heart for anything living, but thanks to his Gaffer he understands that fishing and hunting aren’t bad things. He will probably always feel a little sad for the things he brings home, but he’ll know that it’s just another necessity of life. Thanks for reading!

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 17 on 6/29/2008
“Come back fishy!”

LOL!!! That's so cute!

I loved it how the Gaffer explained the balance of nature to Sam. He's very good at it. But Goldie's too young to understand it yet, it seems :)


Author Reply: I’m sure the Gaffer called upon the lessons he learned from his own father many times while he was raising his children, but he can also adapt those lessons to his own children, as he does here with Sam. Hehe Goldie knows hobbits don’t belong in water, but she also knows that for some odd reason fish seem to like it. ;) She’s got a couple more years before she’s ready to go fishing with her Gaffer. Thanks for reading!

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 17 on 6/29/2008
I like the way the Gaffer is amazed by Sam's story-telling and how he recalls the details. I love that you've included his interest in Elves in these stories. Another wonderful story. I love Sam's family more all the time.

Author Reply: Amazed, or slightly scandalized while still privately impressed? ;) But at least Sammy included a proper hobbity happy ending. I think Sam would have been interested in Elves the moment he heard about them; they’re so far removed from anything he’s known or experienced, and the idea of living forever would have especially appealed to him at this early age.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 17 on 6/29/2008
Ah--these are out beloved Hobbits! Love little Sam learning about fishing and the balance of nature; and Marigold letting the fishie go and then trying to call it back! Heh! Wonderful!

Author Reply: Sam understands that balance when it comes to gardening, it was just an extra step towards applying it to fishing and hunting. Marigold is a dear, wanting to save the fish. Maybe they should have explained *before* why they had taken it from the water in the first place. ;)

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 17 on 6/28/2008
Aw, GF, this was just adorable! I loved the way the Gaffer explained to Sam about the fishing in a way he could understand. That was just lovely--and of course, trust little Sammy to realize that it was much like pruning!

And little Goldie coming up and rescuing the last fish--LOLOL!

I do love your Gamgees so!

Author Reply: Thank you, DF! Gaffer’s really getting used to this fathering thing. Sammy knows plenty about pruning and weeding already, so he would naturally turn to gardening as a way to understand the balance of Nature.
Hehe Goldie isn’t quite ready yet to go on her first fishing adventure, but at least when she is ready, she’ll know not to put the fish back!

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 17 on 6/28/2008
And a lovely fishing adventure it was. I still remember catching my first fish too.

Author Reply: My dad took us fishing a few times – we never caught anything! But we still had a good time. Thanks for reading!

cookiefleckReviewed Chapter: 17 on 6/28/2008
I have been enjoying all of these tales. Simple stories on the surface yet interwoven with much insight about the characters... and about life in general. Thank you!

Author Reply: Thank you cookie! I did want each child to learn something about life from their father in these stories, a sort of “Father Knows Best” series, where all their problems are solved in thirty minutes, or in this case, four pages. ;) Thanks for reading!

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 17 on 6/28/2008
I love the Gaffer's explanation about eating fish, and Sam taking his time to figure everything out. And wee!Sam is already showing his ability to memories tales. This is just delightful.

Author Reply: The Gaffer allows his children to work things out on their own, but he gives them just enough to allow them to do that.
I think Sam would have fantasized about that tale over and over again since hearing it, and I can see him asking Frodo and Bilbo later to explain things or tell certain parts again.

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