This letter is posted, by Brablo himself, to 1 Harrow Road in Barleywick. It is addressed to Reymund Appelby, so may be found (upon arrival) in his possession. The unstamped envelope bears Brablo's seal upon it. On the other side is written:
MR. REYMUND APPELBY
1 HARROW ROAD
BARLEYWICK
The letter reads:
Mr. Reymund Appelby,
To hear that you have chosen to make your home in our village of Barleywick brings me much delight. To move from the busy town of Michel Delving to the pleasant Southfarthing is no doubt a great change for you – but I trust that you will find that you have made a good and long-lasting decision. May you enjoy your new home for many years to come!
As you now live close to my home at Boffin’s Burrow, it is my pleasure to welcome you as my neighbour. Harrow Road is a most delightful part of the village, and will surely be to your liking. Indeed, the hole in which you have now taken residence in once was once occupied by my good friend, Mr. Turingo Noakes, before his well-deserved retirement to Hobbiton. I hope that I may be welcome to join you for afternoon tea once you are settled in, and trust that you know that you are always welcome at my own table should you ever wish to.
It seems now that your visit to Barleywick has now become a permanent arrangement. As a result, I hope that you would consider a more permanent arrangement in regards to your vocation in my library. I understand that you are an auspicious scholar – already held in high regard by many whom share our vocation. My collection, though not as impressive as that found in the Great Smials, certainly has the necessary materials for you to broaden and enrich your already considerable knowledge. Assisting me in the management of my collection, for which you shall receive a good wage, will also provide you more credentials for the future. As we spoke of in our last meeting, there are a number of texts that I am unable to decipher, but it is my hope that you will have more luck. There are also books in need of repair and care, as a number of them date back to the early centuries.
My library is open to the public, so long as there is a librarian present for obvious reasons. The folk of Barleywick are not renowned for their interest in literature, but when the weather is poor some often pick up a book to read - simply for something to do. I would like to get more of Barleywick reading, and I am told that you are interested in tutorage. Perhaps this is an opportunity for you to give lessons - either privately or in larger numbers - to those who have not been taught their letters. Given the rareity of some texts within the library, there are those who travel many miles to browse the collection. They would certainly benefit from having one such as you to point them in the right direction.
Best regards and good health,
Mr. Brablo Boffin, Barleywick
