[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Fordogrim flew toward the wreck of his make-shift bar and threw himself to work at cleaning it up, even as his cousins were coming out of their surprise. His shrewd mind quickly grasped what had happened and to save the situation as best he could be began speaking at once. “Come come come, everybody, don’t worry – no worries! We’ll soon have this cleared away and then more drinks for all, more for all!” Now that he had secured the good graces of the Innkeeper he was eager to resume distributing his goods. He had seen the response to his product and knew that the more folk he could get drinking it, the more folk would be speaking of it. An idea flew into his mind… He had been a Hobbit all his life (which is to say that Fordogrim Chubb was fifty-three) and he knew one thing about his kind: their love of beer was equalled only by their love of gossip. His whole purpose in coming to the Green Dragon in such a dramatic way had been to generate a story worth the telling. Truth be told, he had hoped for something more of a confrontation with Aman – some shouting and high words (he had even prepared a few speeches for the occasion), he had even hoped that perhaps he might move the Innkeeper to a passion…now that was a story sure to have spread to the four farthings as quick as thinking! But she had been disappointingly accommodating. But the crash of the bar, gave him a new opportunity.

Standing tall he cried out, “ATTENTION ALL! In order to facilitate a QUICK RETURN to business, I will give a cask of my BEST ALE to the person as can pick up the most mugs and stack them here upon the bar in the quickest fashion. And free beer for ALL HELPERS!” As you can see, so unused was Fordogrim to giving away his wares without charge that in the heat of the moment it had slipped his mind that he was already giving away his product for free.

There was a rush as the onlookers began to scramble about for the loose mugs for a free mug of beer was one thing, but an entire cask to take home for the family was an altogether different and more magnificent matter! To help them along, Fordogrim began singing one of his favourite songs, and like all his songs it was about the art of brewing. Soon people caught the tune and the words and were singing along lustily as they worked.

I work hard
To make them happy
Every weekend
Makes them party
To the rhythm
Makes them happy
It's magic beer!

Everybody!
Come and drink
Fordogrim’s beer!
Everybody!
Come and drink my
Magic beer!

I make sure
There's a party
When they drink
This special beer
Fordogrim’s Gold
It's magic beer
Fordogrim’s Gold
It's The Shire’s beer!

Everybody!
Come and drink
Fordogrim’s beer!
Everybody!
Come and drink my
Magic beer!

As the work and the singing progressed, Fordogrim spoke a quick word in Tim’s ear. “Now my lad, I don’t want you to go and feel too bad about having upset the cart, so to speak, for you’re a good worker and a good lad and you seemingly have a way with my cousin Gerdy and that’s no rare trait! But you’ve done me a bit of a bad turn and there’s no two ways about it. Still and all, I don’t hold a grudge, I surely don’t and there won’t be another word from me on the subject again. All I ask is that you try not to have your wrestling matches where I’m trying to do my business.” Here he reached up to ruffle the boy’s hair. “Young scamp! I have two of my own about your age and they’re right handfuls the both of them. Come along Master Tim, lend a hand with the mess and then we can see about speaking with that girl as you were tussling with about making things up between you.”