| What do I love about Sam? He is loyal He knew now where his place was and had been: at his master�s side� �Never leave your master, never, never: that was my right rule.� In that hour of trial it was the love of his master that helped most to hold him firm� �I said I�d carry him, if it broke my back,� he muttered, �and I will!� �Come, Mr. Frodo!� he cried. �I can�t carry it for you, but I can carry you and it as well. So up you get! Come on, Mr. Frodo dear! Sam will give you a ride. Just tell him where you want to go, and he�ll go.� He is brave His love for Frodo rose above all other thoughts, and forgetting his peril he cried aloud: �I�m coming Mr. Frodo!� He is affectionate �Frodo! Mr. Frodo, my dear!� cried Sam, tears almost blinding him. �It�s Sam, I�ve come!� he half lifted his master and hugged him to his breast. He kissed Frodo�s forehead. �Come! Wake up, Mr. Frodo!� he said, trying to sound as cheerful as he had when he drew back the curtains at Bag End on a summer�s morning. He is Unselfish �Let me drink first, Mr. Frodo.� He said. �All right, but there�s room enough for two.� �I didn�t mean that,� said Sam. �I mean: if it�s poisonous, or something that will show its badness quick, well, better me than you, master, if you understand me.� ��it would be safe for you to have a wink now, master. Safe, if you lay close to me. I�d be dearly glad to see you have a sleep. I�d keep watch over you; and anyway, if you lay near, with my arm round you, no one could come pawing you without your Sam knowing it.� He is gentle At that moment there was a knock on the door, and Sam came in. He ran to Frodo and took his left hand, awkwardly and shyly. He stroked it gently and then he blushed and turned hastily away. �I�d given up hope, almost. I couldn�t find you.� �Well, you have now, Sam, dear Sam,� said Frodo, and he lay back in Sam�s gentle arms, closing his eyes, like a child at rest when night-fears are driven away by some loved voice or hand. �Now for it! Now for the last gasp!� said Sam as he struggled to his feet. He bent over Frodo, rousing him gently. He is loving He shook his head, as if finding words useless, and murmured: �I love him. He�s like that, and sometimes it shines through, somehow. But I love him, whether or no.� �It�s warm!� said Sam. �Meaning your hand, Mr. Frodo. It has felt so cold through the long nights. But glory and trumpets!� he cried, turning round again with shining eyes and dancing on the floor. �It�s fine to see you up and yourself again, sir!� His love for Frodo rose above all other thoughts, and forgetting his peril he cried aloud: �I�m coming Mr. Frodo!� At last he groped for Frodo�s hand. It was cold and trembling. His master was shivering. �I didn�t ought to have left my blanket behind,� muttered Sam; and lying down he tried to comfort Frodo with his arms and body. Then sleep took him, and the dim light of the last day of their quest found them side by side. He is determined �Oh, Mr. Frodo, that�s hard!� said Sam shivering. �That�s hard, trying to go without me and all. Why if I hadn�t a guessed right, where would you be now?� �Safely on my way.� �Safely!� said Sam. �All alone and without me to help you? I couldn�t have a born it. It�d have been the death of me.� �It would be the death of you to come with me, Sam,� said Frodo, �and I could not have born that.� �Not as certain as being left behind,� said Sam. �But I am going to Mordor.� �I know that well enough, Mr. Frodo. Of course you are. And I�m coming with you.� Sam felt that he could sit like that in endless happiness; but it was not allowed. It was not enough for him to find his master, he had still to try and save him. �I�ll get there, if I leave everything but my bones behind,� said Sam. �And I�ll carry Mr. Frodo up myself, if it breaks my back and heart. |