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s nolack of it； but I know of no tunnel…making。 I saw Mr。 Bilbo when he came back；
a matter of sixty years ago； when I was a lad。 I'd not long e prentice toold Holman （him being my dad's cousin）； but he had me up at Bag End helpinghim to keep folks from trampling and trapessing all over the garden while thesale was on。 And in the middle of it all Mr。 Bilbo es up the Hill with apony and some mighty big bags and a couple of chests。 I don't doubt they weremostly full of treasure he had picked up in foreign parts； where there bemountains of gold； they say； but there wasn't enough to fill tunnels。 But mylad Sam will know more about that。 He's in and out of Bag End。 Crazy aboutstories of the old days he is； and he listens to all Mr。 Bilbo's tales。 Mr。
Bilbo has learned him his letters – meaning no harm； mark you； and I hope noharm will e of it。
_'Elves and Dragons'_ I says to him。 '_Cabbages and potatoes are betterfor me and you。 Don't go getting mixed up in the business of your betters； oryou'll land in trouble too big for you；'_I says to him。 And I might say it toothers；' he added with a look at the stranger and the miller。
But the Gaffer did not convince his audience。 The legend of Bilbo'swealth was now too firmly fixed in the minds of the younger generation ofhobbits。
'Ah； but he has likely enough been adding to what he brought at first；'
argued the miller； voicing mon opinion。 'He's often away from home。 Andlook at the outlandish folk that visit him： dwarves ing at night； and thatold wandering conjuror； Gandalf； and all。 You can say what you like； Gaffer；
but Bag End's a queer place； and its folk are queerer。'
'And you can say _what you_ like； about what you know no more of than youdo of boating； Mr。 Sandyman；' retorted the Gaffer； disliking the miller evenmore than usual。 If that's being queer； then we could do with a bit morequeerness in these parts。 There's some not far away that wouldn't offer a pintof beer to a friend； if they lived in a hole with golden walls。 But they dothings proper at Bag End。 Our Sam says that _everyone's_ going to be invitedto the party； and there's going to be presents； mark you； presents for all –
this very month as is。'
That very month was September； and as fine as you could ask。 A day or twolater a rumour （probably started by the knowledgeable Sam） was spread aboutthat there were going to be fireworks – fireworks； what is more； such as hadnot been seen in the Shire for nigh on a century； not indeed since the OldTook died。
Days passed and The Day drew nearer。 An odd…looking waggon laden withodd…looking packages rolled into Hobbiton one evening and toiled up the Hillto Bag End。 The startled hobbits peered out of lamplit doors to gape at it。 Itwas driven by outlandish folk； singing strange songs： dwarves with long beardsand deep hoods。 A few of them remained at Bag End。 At the end of the secondweek in September a cart came in through Bywater from the direction of theBrandywine Bridge in broad daylight。 An old man was driving it all alone。 Hewore a tall pointed blue hat； a long grey cloak； and a silver scarf。 He had along white beard and bushy eyebrows that stuck out beyond the brim of his hat。
Small hobbit…children ran after the cart all through Hobbiton and right up thehill。 It had a cargo of fireworks； as they rightly guessed。 At Bilbo's frontdoor the old man began to unload： there were great bundles of fireworks of allsorts and shapes； each labelled with a large red G and the elf…rune； 。
That was Gandalf's mark； of course； and the old man was Gandalf theWizard； whose fame in the Shire was due mainly to his skill with fires；
smokes； and lights。 His real business was far more difficult and dangerous；
but the Shire…folk knew nothing about it。 To them he was just one of the'attractions' at the Party。 Hence the excitement of the hobbit…children。 'Gfor Grand！' they shouted； and the old man smiled。 They knew him by sight；
though he only appeared in Hobbiton occasionally and never stopped long； butneither they nor any but the oldest of their elders had seen one of hisfirework displays – they now belonged to the legendary past。
When the old man； helped by Bilbo and some dwarves； had finishedunloading。 Bilbo gave a few pennies away； but not a single squib or crackerwas forthing； to the disappointment of the onlookers。
'Run away now！' said Gandalf。 'You will get plenty when the time es。'
Then he disappeared inside with Bilbo； and the door was shut。 The younghobbits stared at the door in vain for a while； and then made off； feelingthat the day of the party would never e。
Inside Bag End； Bilbo and Gandalf were sitting at the open window of asmall room looking out west on to the garden。 The late afternoon was brightand peaceful。 The flowers glowed red and golden： snap…dragons and sun…flowers；
and nasturtiums trailing all over the turf walls and peeping in at the roundwindows。
'How bright your garden looks！' said Gandalf。
'Yes；' said Bilbo。 I am very fond indeed of it； and of all the dear oldShire； but I think I need a holiday。'
'You mean to go on with your plan then？'
'I do。 I made up my mind months ago； and I haven't changed it。'
'Very well。 It is no good saying any more。 Stick to your plan – yourwhole plan； mind – and I hope it will turn out for the best； for you； and forall of us。'
'I hope so。 Anyway I mean to enjoy myself on Thursday； and have my little
joke。'
'Who will laugh； I wonder？' said Gandalf； shaking his head。
'We shall see；' said Bilbo。
The next day more carts rolled up the Hill； and still more carts。 Theremight have been some grumbling about 'dealing locally'； but that very weekorders began to pour out of Bag End for every kind of provision； modity； orluxury that could be obtained in Hobbiton or Bywater or anywhere in theneighbourhood。 People became enthusiastic； and they began to tick off the dayson the calendar； and they watched eagerly for the postman； hoping forinvitations。
Before long the invitations began pouring out； and the Hobbiton post…
office was blocked； and the Bywater post…office was snowed under； andvoluntary assistant postmen were called for。 There was a constant stream ofthem going up the Hill；