Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 136 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.
Today’s excerpt is from The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien. This is the story that introduced readers to Middle Earth and Hobbits and Bilbo Baggins.
The passage is at the edge of Mirkwood as Gandalf makes plans for Bilbo and the dwarves.
“Well, here is Mirkwood!” said Gandalf. “The greatest of the forests of the Northern world. I hope you like the look of it. Now you must send back these excellent ponies you have borrowed.”
The dwarves were inclined to grumble at this, but the wizard told them they were fools. “Beorn is not as far off as you seem to think, and you had better keep your promises anyway, for he is a bad enemy. Mr. Baggins’ eyes are sharper than yours, if you have not seen each night after dark a great bear going along with us or sitting far off in the moon watching our camps. Not only to guard you and guide you, but to keep an eye on the ponies too. Beorn may be your friend, but he loves his animals as his children. You do not guess what kindness he has shown you in letting dwarves ride them so far and so fast, nor what would happen to you, if you tried to take them into the forest.”
“What about the horse, then?” said Thorin. “You don’t mention sending that back.”
“I don’t, because I am not sending it.”“What about your promise then?”
“I will look after that. I am not sending the horse back, I m riding it.”
Then they knew that Gandalf was going to leave them at the very edge of Mirkwood, and they were in despair.
Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.
No comments:
Post a Comment