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bout　eating。　There　were　toys　the　like　of　which　they　had　never　seen　before；　all　beautiful　and　some　obviously　magical。　Many　of　them　had　indeed　been　ordered　a　year　before；　and　had　e　all　the　way　from　the　Mountain　and　from　Dale；　and　were　of　real　dwarfmake。

When　every　guest　had　been　weled　and　was　finally　inside　the　gate；　there　were　songs；　dances；　music；　games；　and；　of　course；　food　and　drink。　There　were　three　official　meals：　lunch；　tea；　and　dinner　（or　supper）。　But　lunch　and　tea　were　marked　chiefly　by　the　fact　that　at　those　times　all　the　guests　were　sitting　down　and　eating　together。　At　other　times　there　were　merely　lots　of　people　eating　and　drinking　continuously　from　elevenses　until　sixthirty；　when　the　fireworks　started。

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　was　also　a　generous　distribution　of　squibs；　crackers；　backarappers；　sparklers；　torches；　dwarfcandles；　elf　fountains；　goblinbarkers　and　thunderclaps。　They　were　all　superb。　The　art　of　Gandalf　improved　with　age。

There　were　rockets　like　a　flight　of　scintillating　birds　singing　with　sweet　voices。　There　were　green　trees　with　trunks　of　dark　smoke：　their　leaves　opened　like　a　whole　spring　unfolding　in　a　moment；　and　their　shining　branches　dropped　glowing　flowers　down　upon　the　astonished　hobbits；　disappearing　with　a　sweet　scent　just　before　they　touched　their　upturned　faces。　There　were　fountains　of　butterflies　that　flew　glittering　into　the　trees；　there　were　pillars　of　coloured　fires　that　rose　and　turned　into　eagles；　or　sailing　ships；　or　a　phalanx　of　flying　swans；　there　was　a　red　thunderstorm　and　a　shower　of　yellow　rain；　there　was　a　forest　of　silver　spears　that　sprang　suddenly　into　the　air　with　a　yell　like　an　embattled　army；　and　came　down　again　into　the　Water　with　a　hiss　like　a　hundred　hot　snakes。　And　there　was　also　one　last　surprise；　in　honour　of　Bilbo；　and　it　startled　the　hobbits　exceedingly；　as　Gandalf　intended。　The　lights　went　out。　A　great　smoke　went　up。　It　shaped　itself　like　a　mountain　seen　in　the　distance；　and　began　to　glow　at　the　summit。　It　spouted　green　and　scarlet　flames。　Out　flew　a　redgolden　dragon　。　not　lifesize；　but　terribly　lifelike：　fire　came　from　his　jaws；　his　eyes　glared　down；　there　was　a　roar；　and　he　whizzed　three　times　over　the　heads　of　the　crowd。　They　all　ducked；　and　many　fell　flat　on　their　faces。　The　dragon　passed　like　an　express　train；　turned　a　somersault；　and　burst　over　Bywater　with　a　deafening　explosion。

'That　is　the　signal　for　supper！'　said　Bilbo。　The　pain　and　alarm　vanished　at　once；　and　the　prostrate　hobbits　leaped　to　their　feet。　There　was　a　splendid　supper　for　everyone；　for　everyone；　that　is；　except　those　invited　to　the　special　family　dinnerparty。　This　was　held　in　the　great　pavilion　with　the　tree。　The　invitations　were　limited　to　twelve　dozen　（a　number　also　called　by　the　hobbits　one　Gross；　though　the　word　was　not　considered　proper　to　use　of　people）；　and　the　guests　were　selected　from　all　the　families　to　which　Bilbo　and　Frodo　were　related；　with　the　addition　of　a　few　special　unrelated　friends　（such　as　Gandalf）。　Many　young　hobbits　were　included；　and　present　by　parental　permission；　for　hobbits　were　easygoing　with　their　children　in　the　matter　of　sitting　up　late；　especially　when　there　was　a　chance　of　getting　them　a　free　meal。　Bringing　up　young　hobbits　took　a　lot　of　provender。

There　were　many　Bagginses　and　Boffins；　and　also　many　Tooks　and　Brandybucks；　there　were　various　Grubbs　（relations　of　Bilbo　Baggins'　grandmother）；　and　various　Chubbs　（connexions　of　his　Took　grandfather）；　and　a　selection　of　Burrowses；　Bolgers；　Bracegirdles；　Brockhouses；　Goodbodies；　Hornblowers　and　Proudfoots。　Some　of　these　were　only　very　distantly　connected　with　Bilbo；　and　some　of　them　had　hardly　ever　been　in　Hobbiton　before；　as　they　lived　in　remote　corners　of　the　Shire。　The　SackvilleBagginses　were　not　fotten。　Otho　and　his　wife　Lobelia　were　present。　They　disliked　Bilbo　and　detested　Frodo；　but　so　magnificent　was　the　invitation　card；　written　in　golden　ink；　that　they　had　felt　it　was　impossible　to　refuse。　Besides；　their　cousin；　Bilbo；　had　been　specializing　in　food　for　many　years　and　his　table　had　a　high　reputation。

All　the　one　hundred　and　fortyfour　guests　expected　a　pleasant　feast；　though　they　rather　dreaded　the　afterdinner　speech　of　their　host　（an　inevitable　item）。　He　was　liable　to　drag　in　bits　of　what　he　called　poetry；　and　sometimes；　after　a　glass　or　two；　would　allude　to　the　absurd　adventures　of　his　mysterious　journey。　The　guests　were　not　disappointed：　they　had　a　very　pleasant　feast；　in　fact　an　engrossing　entertainment：　rich；　abundant；　varied；　and　prolonged。　The　purchase　of　provisions　fell　almost　to　nothing　throughout　the　district　in　the　ensuing　weeks；　but　as　Bilbo's　catering　had　depleted　the　stocks　of　most　stores；　cellars　and　warehouses　for　miles　around；　that　did　not　matter　much。

After　the　feast　（more　or　less）　came　the　Speech。　Most　of　the　pany　were；　however；　now　in　a　tolerant　mood；　at　that　delightful　stage　which　they　called　'filling　up　the　corners'。　They　were　sipping　their　favourite　drinks；　and　nibbling　at　their　favourite　dainties；　and　their　fears　were　fotten。　They　were　prepared　to　listen　to　anything；　and　to　cheer　at　every　full　stop。

My　dear　People；　began　Bilbo；　rising　in　his　place。　'Hear！　Hear！　Hear！'　they　shouted；　and　kept　on　repeating　it　in　chorus；　seeming　reluctant　to　follow　their　own　advice。　Bilbo　left　his　place　and　went　and　stood　on　a　chair　under　the　illuminated　tree。　The　light　of　the　lanterns　fell　on　his　beaming　face；　the　golden　buttons　shone　on　his　embroidered　silk　waistcoat。　They　could　all　see　him　standing；　waving　one　hand　in　the　air；　the　other　was　in　his　trouserpocket。

My　dear　Bagginses　and　Boffins；　he　began　again；　and　my　dear　Tooks　and　Brandybucks；　and　Grubbs；　and　Chubbs；　and　Burrowses；　and　Hornblowers；　and　Bolgers；　Bracegirdles；　Goodbodies；　Brockhouses　and　Proudfoots。　'ProudFEET！'　shouted　an　elderly　hobbit　from　the　back　of　the　pavilion。　His　name；　of　course；　was　Proudfoot；　and　well　merited；　his　feet　were　large；　exceptionally　furry；　and　both　were　on　the　table。

Proudfoots；　repeated　Bilbo。　Also　my　good　SackvilleBagginses　that　I　wele　back　at　last　to　Bag　End。　Today　is　my　one　hundred　and　eleventh　birthday：　I　am　eleventyone　today！　'Hurray！　Hurray！　Many　Happy　Returns！'　they　shouted；　and　they　hammered　joyously　on　the　tables。　Bilbo　was　doing　splendidly。　This　was　the　sort　of　stuff　they　liked：　short　and　obvious。

I　hope　you　are　all　enjoying　yourselves　as　much　as　I　am。　Deafening　cheers。　Cries　of　Yes　（and　No）。　Noises　of　trumpets　and　horns；　pipes　and　flutes；　and　other　musical　instruments。　There　were；　as　has　been　said；　many　young　hobbits　present。　Hundreds　of　musical　crackers　had　been　pulled。　Most　of　them　bore　the　mark　DALE　on　them；　which　did　not　convey　much　to　most　of　the　hobbits；　but　they　all　agreed　they　were　marvellous　crackers。　They　contained　instruments；　small；　but　of　perfect　make　and　enchanting　tones。　Indeed；　in　one　corner　some　of　the　young　Tooks　and　Brandybucks；　supposing　Uncle　Bilbo　to　have　finished　（since　he　had　plainly　said　all　that　was　necessary）；　now　got　up　an　impromptu　orchestra；　and　began　a　merry　dancetune。　Master　Everard　Took　and　Miss　Melilot　Brandybuck　got　on　a　table　and　with　bells　in　their　hands　began　to　dance　the　Springlering：　a　pretty　dance；　but　rather　vigorous。

But　Bilbo　had　not　finished。　Seizing　a　horn　from　a　youngster　near　by；　he　blew　three　loud　hoots。　The　noise　subsided。　I　shall　not　keep　you　long；　he　cried。　Cheers　from　all　the　assembly。　I　have　called　you　all　together　for　a　Purpose。　Something　in　the　way　that　he　said　this　made　an　impression。　There　was　almost　silence；　and　one　or　two　of　the　Tooks　pricked　up　their　ears。

Indeed；　for　Three　Purposes！　First　of　all；　to　tell　you　that　I　am　immensely　fond　of　you　all；　and　that　eleventyone　years　is　too　short　a　time　to　live　among　such　excellent　and　admirable　hobbits。　Tremendous　outburst　of　approval。

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　pliment。

Secondly；