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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； carrying hundreds of polite variations on _Thank you；
I shall certainly e。_
A notice appeared on the gate at Bag End： NO ADMITTANCE EXCEPT ON PARTYBUSINESS。 Even those who had； or pretended to have Party Business were seldomallowed inside。 Bilbo was busy： writing invitations； ticking off answers；
packing up presents； and making some private preparations of his own。 From thetime of Gandalf's arrival he remained hidden from view。
One morning the hobbits woke to find the large field； south of Bilbo'sfront door； covered with ropes and poles for tents and pavilions。 A specialentrance was cut into the bank leading to the road； and wide steps and a largewhite gate were built there。 The three hobbit…families of Bagshot Row；
adjoining the field； were intensely interested and generally envied。 OldGaffer Gamgee stopped even pretending to work in his garden。
The tents began to go up。 There was a specially large pavilion； so bigthat the tree that grew in the field was right inside it； and stood proudlynear one end； at the head of the chief table。 Lanterns were hung on all itsbranches。 More promising still （to the hobbits' mind）： an enormous open…airkitchen was erected in the north corner of the field。 A draught of cooks； from
every inn and eating…house for miles around； arrived to supplement the dwarvesand other odd folk that were quartered at Bag End。 Excitement rose to itsheight。
Then the weather clouded over。 That was on Wednesday the eve of theParty。 Anxiety was intense。 Then Thursday； September the 22nd； actuallydawned。 The sun got up； the clouds vanished； flags were unfurled and the fun
began。
Bilbo Baggins called it a _party；_ but it was really a variety ofentertainments rolled into one。 Practically everybody living near was invited。
A very few were overlooked by accident； but as they turned up all the same；
that did not matter。 Many people from other parts of the Shire were alsoasked； and there were even a few from outside the borders。 Bilbo met theguests （and additions） at the new white gate in person。 He gave away presentsto all and sundry – the latter were those who went out again by a back way andcame in again by the gate。 Hobbits give presents to other people on their ownbirthdays。 Not very expensive ones； as a rule； and not so lavishly as on thisoccasion； but it was not a bad system。 Actually in Hobbiton and Bywater everyday in the year it was somebody's birthday； so that every hobbit in thoseparts had a fair chance of at least one present at least once a week。 But theynever got tired of them。
On this occasion the presents were unusually good。 The hobbit…childrenwere so excited that for a while they almost forgot about eating。 There weretoys the like of which they had never seen before； all beautiful and someobviously magical。 Many of them had indeed been ordered a year before； and hade all the way from the Mountain and from Dale； and were of real dwarf…make。
When every guest had been weled and was finally inside the gate； therewere songs； dances； music； games； and； of course； food and drink。 There werethree official meals： lunch； tea； and dinner （or supper）。 But lunch and teawere marked chiefly by the fact that at those times all the guests weresitting down and eating together。 At other times there were merely lots ofpeople eating and drinking – continuously from elevenses until six…thirty；
when the fireworks started。
The fireworks were by Gandalf： they were not only brought by him； butdesigned and made by him； and the special effects； set pieces； and flights ofrockets were let off by him。 But there was also a generous distribution ofsquibs； crackers； backarappers； sparklers； torches； dwarf…candles； elf…
fountains； goblin…barkers and thunder…claps。 They were all superb。 The art ofGandalf improved with age。
There were rockets like a flight of scintillating birds singing withsweet voices。 There were green trees with trunks of dark smoke： their leavesopened like a whole spring unfolding in a moment； and their shining branchesdropped glowing flowers down upon the astonished hobbits； disappearing with asweet scent just before they touched their upturned faces。 There werefountains of butterflies that flew glittering into the trees； there werepillars 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 ofyellow rain； there was a forest of silver spears that sprang suddenly into theair with a yell like an embattled army； and came down again into the Waterwith 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 Gandalfintended。 The lights went out。 A great smoke went up。 It shaped itself like amountain seen in the distance； and began to glow at the summit。 It spoutedgreen and scarlet flames。 Out flew a red…golden dragon – not life…size； butterribly life…like： fire came from his jaws； his eyes glared down； there was aroar； 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 vanishedat once； and the prostrate hobbits leaped to their feet。 There was a splendidsupper for everyone； for everyone； that is； except those invited to the
special family dinner…party。 This was held in the great pavilion with thetree。 The invitations were limited to twelve dozen （a number also called bythe hobbits one Gross； though the word was not considered proper to use ofpeople）； and the guests were selected from all the families to which Bilbo andFrodo were related； with the addition of a few special unrelated friends （suchas Gandalf）。 Many young hobbits were included； and present by parentalpermission； for hobbits were easy…going with their children in the matter ofsitting up late； especially when there was a chance of getting them a f