Brightdown

Popski was just shutting the Brightdown Gate for the night when a young Hobbit lass came running up, and without saying a word, shoved a small envelope into his hands. Popski looked down at the letter but by the time he had looked up to thank the lass she had already disappeared from view.

Popski lit a few candles when he got back to his burrow and opened the letter.

Dear Master Mudbottom

Dema had traveled from Breeland to the Shire as fast as her little pony could take her. She had been given a letter to deliver to the Gatekeeper at Brightdown village and a second letter that was to be taken to an address in Songburrow. The distance did not bother Dema she enjoyed her travels and it was good to have something to keep her occupied.

Popski looked at the note again and read for a third time. There it was in black and white, The Sheriff had been going through his records and found that Popski had not taken a single day off since he was appointed Gatekeeper to the Village of Brightdown.

17th Rethe

Several Hobbit Folks were gathering outside the gate to Brightdown tonight. I suspected Loiterers creating an obstruction on the Thain's Highways but on investigation it appeared to be The Southfarthing Gate Concert.

It had been another quiet night in Brightdown. Popski stood beside the large village gate his lantern swinging in his hand. He waited until the last rays of the sun had begun to disappear below the hills before turning to slowly close the gate. In the old days it had been locked with a large iron key but now it was merely closed at night. This was mainly because the Shire was such a quiet safe place to live that folks rarely locked even their own front doors, but it was also because the key had been lost by a drunken Gate Keeper many years before.

Popski walked the short distance from his front door to the large Oak tree that overhung the gate to Brightdown village. It was under the great sweeping arms of this Oak that he usual took shelter if the rain was heavy or the sun too hot. Popski had heard tales when he was a small child of great trees that walked and spoke to one another in a language of their own making.

24th Blotmath

25th Blotmath

New Gatekeeper Popski appointed and begins his duty. Gatekeepers burrow is cleaned and dusted.

26th Blotmath