[The Squatter of Amon Rûdh]

The other week I happened to buy a Gothic grammar from a local bric-a-brac emporium, from which fell a scrap of paper bearing the Merton College letterhead. On this could be faintly discerned some pencilled notes in virtually illegible handwriting, from which I could glean only the following.

"Mordor annual spelling bee held each year on Sauron's birthday... [?Daisy] regular win[ner] but refuses prize of fresh veal... Mithril cow-bell causes involuntary lowing in all who hear it.

W-K travels to Shire incognito for souvenir spoon from Michel Delving mathom-house. When his robes are discovered, Elves should find Michelin Guide to Eriador, revealing planned journey.

Should railway in fact be source of fumes about Gorgoroth? S. and F. take 2nd class carriage from Kirith Ungol, but put off for travelling w/o tickets. Ring calls out to ticket inspector."

On the verso is the one note: "buy aspirin", which would appear to date it to the same hasty period of revision detailed above.