hobbit

"I beg of you," said Bilbo stammering and standing on one foot, "to accept this gift!" and
he brought out a necklace of silver and pearls that Dain had given him at their parting.
"In what way have I earned such a gift, O hobbit?" said the king.
"Well, er, I thought, don't you know," said Bilbo rather confused, "that, er, some little
return should be made for your, er, hospitality. I mean even a burglar has his feelings. I
have drunk much of your wine and eaten much of your bread."
"I will take your gift, O Bilbo the Magnificent!" said the king gravely.
"And I name you elf-friend and blessed. May your shadow never grow less (or stealing
would be too easy)! Farewell!"
Then the elves turned towards the Forest, and Bilbo started on his long road home.
He had many hardships and adventures before he got back. The Wild was still the Wild,
and there were many other things in it in those days besides goblins; but he was well
guided and well guarded-the wizard was with him, and Beorn for much of the way-and
he was never in great danger again. Anyway by mid-winter Gandalf and Bilbo had come
all the way back, along both edges of the Forest, to the doors of Beorn's house; and
there for a while they both stayed. Yule-tide was warm and merry there; and men came
from far and wide to feast at Beorn's bidding. The goblins of the Misty Mountains were
now few and terrified, and hidden in the deepest holes they could find; and the Wargs
had vanished from the woods, so that men went abroad without fear. Beorn indeed
became a great chief afterwards in those regions and ruled a wide land between the
mountains and the wood; and it is said that for many generations the men of his line had
the power of taking bear's shape, and some were grim men and bad, but most were in
heart like Beorn, if less in size and strength. In their day the last goblins were hunted
from the Misty Mountains and a new peace came over the edge of the Wild. It was
spring, and a fair one with mild weathers and a bright sun, before Bilbo and Gandalf took
their leave at last of Beorn, and though he longed for home. Bilbo left with regret, for the
flowers of the gardens of Beorn were m springtime no less marvellous than in high
summer. At last they came up the long road, and reached the very pass where the
goblins had captured them before. But they came to that high point at morning, and
looking backward they saw a white sun shining over the out-stretched lands.
There behind lay Mirkwood, blue in the distance, and darkly green at the nearer edge
even in the spring. There far away was the Lonely Mountain on the edge of eyesight. On
its highest peak snow yet unmelted was gleaming pale.
"So comes snow after fire, and even dragons have their ending!" said Bilbo, and he
turned his back on his adventure. The Tookish part was getting very tired, and the
Baggins was daily getting stronger. "I wish now only to be in my own arm-chair!" he said.
Chapter 19
The Last Stage
It was on May the First that the two came back at last to the brink of the valley of
Rivendell, where stood the Last (or the First) Homely House.
Again it was evening, their ponies were tired, especially the one that carried the
baggage; and they all felt in need of rest. As they rode down the steep path, Bilbo heard
the elves still singing in the trees, as if they had not stopped since he left; and as soon
as their riders came down into the lower glades of the wood they burst into a song of
much the same kind as before.
This is something like it:
"The dragon is withered,
His bones are now crumbled;