It seems as though you can never have too much of a good thing. In finding an old friend, I have also lost another. For certain it was a pleasant surprise to find Borcho Hornblower on my doorstep after almost a decade. To my mind, it was simply a social call; for some time we simply talked over tea as any two friends might. But then the true reason of his visit became known. Since he came of age, Michel Delving had been his home. There he worked with the Mathom Society and also authored a number of books. But it appears that his purse was not as deep as people said - for recently he was made homeless, as the rent on his hole has seemingly increased to a ridiculous level. So it was to Barleywick he turned for help, which of course I was more than willing to provide.
When my dearest Primrose died, I felt as though my own life was at an end. At points I wished it to be. In my grief, I simply locked myself in my study and sat in silence. For hours, for days. What of my children? For certain they too grieved for the loss of their mother, but I paid little attention to them at this point. Esmeralda and Adro did their best, of course, but they had their own problems at this time too. In these dark days, it was Borcho who showed us the light. He looked over my children as I grieved. To me he gave me comfort, advice, and even a shoulder to cry on. Now that it is him facing hard times, I can only do my best to repay him. A small hole, not far from Boffin's Burrow, has long been for sale. For a reasonable price, I purchased this for Borcho. To aid his financial situation, I have also given him work in my library - a vocation he will surely enjoy.
But soon after, I lost another dear friend. Brookin has stayed in Barleywick on numerous occasions, keeping his head down so he may go unnoticed. Many might be scared or threatened by his presence, given his stature. But in my mind he is quite harmless, to hobbits anyway. But someone must have noticed him (and I have good reason to suspect one individual) and alerted the Bounders. To prevent any unpleasantness, I had no other choice but to see him away. But he did not take the news well at all. I fear that he no longer considers me a friend; no doubt he holds all hobbits in contempt now. I only hope that his departure was peaceful.
