return

1326 the return of the king
was pleased by that, and he works there cleaning wheels for
the Men, where his dad was the Miller and his own master.
Pimple’s idea was to grind more and faster, or so he said.
He’s got other mills like it. But you’ve got to have grist before
you can grind; and there was no more for the new mill to do
than for the old. But since Sharkey came they don’t grind no
more corn at all. They’re always a-hammering and a-letting
out a smoke and a stench, and there isn’t no peace even at
night in Hobbiton. And they pour out filth a purpose; they’ve
fouled all the lower Water, and it’s getting down into Brandywine.
If they want to make the Shire into a desert, they’re
going the right way about it. I don’t believe that fool of a
Pimple’s behind all this. It’s Sharkey, I say.’
‘That’s right!’ put in Young Tom. ‘Why, they even took
Pimple’s old ma, that Lobelia, and he was fond of her, if no
one else was. Some of the Hobbiton folk, they saw it. She
comes down the lane with her old umberella. Some of the
ruffians were going up with a big cart.
‘ ‘‘Where be you a-going?’’ says she.
‘ ‘‘To Bag End,’’ says they.
‘ ‘‘What for?’’ says she.
‘ ‘‘To put up some sheds for Sharkey,’’ says they.
‘ ‘‘Who said you could?’’ says she.
‘ ‘‘Sharkey,’’ says they. ‘‘So get out o’ the road, old
hagling!’’
‘ ‘‘I’ll give you Sharkey, you dirty thieving ruffians!’’ says
she, and ups with her umberella and goes for the leader, near
twice her size. So they took her. Dragged her off to the
Lockholes, at her age too. They’ve took others we miss more,
but there’s no denying she showed more spirit than most.’
Into the middle of this talk came Sam, bursting in with his
gaffer. Old Gamgee did not look much older, but he was a
little deafer.
‘Good evening, Mr. Baggins!’ he said. ‘Glad indeed I am
to see you safe back. But I’ve a bone to pick with you, in a
manner o’ speaking, if I may make so bold. You didn’t never