Eat, Bray, Love, Episode 3

In town we paid a visit to Gardenia Bracegirdle who, strangely enough, hangs her shingle at the Bird and Baby Inn.  Come to think of it, I suppose an inn is not such a bad place for a healer after all. It's not uncommon for a hobbit to become ill after drinking too much ale, and occasionally one or two become injured during a scuffle about who's footing the bill. (Usually, however, when a dispute arises they simply put it on their "tab" then forget about it, hoping the tavern keep does, too.) Unfortunately, Miss Bracegirdle was no more helpful than Hasculf Goodbody had been in Goosevale.

Since Mayor Will Whitfoot was near at hand we decided to call on him. He's grand at making speeches, and puts away vittles as no other hobbit can, but he's never displayed any particular interest in the healing arts as far as I can tell. Still, it was worth the effort to consult a hobbit of his girth and influence. When the Mayor finished laughing, which I found rude and terribly inappropriate for a fellow in his esteemed position, he suggested that Donkey-Piper be taken to see Thain Paladin Took II at the Great Smials in Tuckburough. The Tooks are a rich and powerful family. If anyone in The Shire would know where to find a skilled healer it would be them.

Fortunately, Thain Took, a hobbit of great importance and dignity, behaved much better than the Mayor had. He introduced us to his cousin, Miss Hyacinth Took, who offered to aid us if we'd run several errands for her first. We thanked her but declined her generous offer of assistance, explaining that we were in great haste to find a cure for poor Piper and hadn't any time for errands. Despite being slightly offended, she kindly suggested we take my husband to Buckland to see those who knew him best--his family. There must be a healer there "on the wrong side of the river", as she put it, who'd know what to do. I wasn't so certain but what choice did we have?