Part One
Now sat upon a wooden chair
An aging couple look around
So contented in their little home
And ever fruitful patch of ground
In Staddle now, they spend their days
And ponder how they came to stay
Both Jess and Pia were both raised
In two of Staddle's smallest farms
As bairns they'd play, but when they grew
They'd stroll together arm-in-arm
So soon enough, they were both wed
And came to have their own farmstead
Alas, their home was very small
The field grazed by so few sheep
And veg that grew within their patch
Was scarce enough for them to eat
As approached the Autumn's days
They wished that they could get away
One night, whilst Jess was in the Inn
The Prancing Pony, found in Bree
He heard some talk of far off lands
Where hobbits wandered far and free
And as he sat beside the fire
He mind soon wandered to The Shire
Returning home as fast he could
He told to Pia all he knew
And excitedly did she agree
That they would both depart there too
New life awaiting in the West
A chance for both to start afresh
Thus Jess then toiled through harvest days
To grow as many crops he could
Enough to take upon their trip
Whilst Pia went collecting wood
So Jess than could make a start
To craft themselves a travelling cart
And struggling through long winter days
They felt that they were set to go
For spring was soon to come at last
To melt away the biting snow
And so they went to bed one day
Relieved they'd soon be on their way
But ere the dawn, they startled up
A bounder screaming at their door
"Get up" he cried, "For Brigrands raid!"
"They're pillaging your precious stores"
And sure enough, a bandit mob
Had come with fire, and axe, and rocks
For they had seen all Jess's crops
That he was taking to the Shire
The bandits stuffed them into sacks
Next, setting Jess's cart on fire!
Poor Jess and Pia felt despair
As bandits torched their hole right there!
Part Two
The brigands left no stone unturned
In raiding Jess and Pia's farm
What other homestead's lie in store?
Would all hobbits come to harm?
Poor Jess and Pia felt such dread
As flames engulfed their small homestead
But in the midst of all doom
A ranger passing on his steed
Had saw the bandits causing strife
And knew the hobbits were in need
He galloped on with haste to Bree
And cried out loud "To Arms! With Me!"
And so the folk from Bree did come
To Staddle town, to give their aid
And many hobbits took up arms
To drive off bandits from their raid
And Jess then grabbed a length of wood
To bash the mob as best he could
The battle lasted all the night
But soon the bandits did concede
The Breeland folk were much too strong
And brigands fled at utmost speed
Even bounders gave them chase
'Til Staddle town was surely safe
But with the dawning of the day
A scene of wreckage laid in store
For Jess and Pia's home was burnt
Their cart and goods were there no more
"Our dreams of going to The Shire"
Cried Jess, "Are ashes on the fire!"
All hobbits tried to rally round
In Jess and Pia's hour of need
But whilst discussing what to do
Came forth the ranger on his steed
"Fear not", he said, "For folk of Bree"
"Will do their best to comfort ye"
And so from Bree came men of craft
To help rebuild poor Jess's farm
And hobbits too, they planted crops
They even built a little barn
And Staddle's mayor then took a stand
He granted Jess some extra land
So Jess and Pia's farm was saved
Their stores were stocked, and home re-built
But they had planned to leave the farm
Which left them feeling twangs of guilt
"So much kindness came our way"
Said Pia, "Jessie, we should stay!"
So Jess and Pia stayed in Staddle
So touched by all the friendship there
And every evening they would sit
Contented on that wooden chair
Although your home may be quite grand
Your neighbours count as much as land
