The Hobbit Version of 9-1-1

Passage from the text:
“ ‘Keep to the green grass. Don’t you go a-meedling with old stone or cold Wights or prying in their houses, unless you be strong folk with hearts that never falter!’ He said this more than once; and he advised them to pass barrows by on the west-side, if they chanced to stray near one. Then he taught them a rhyme to sing, if they should by ill-luck fall into any danger or difficulty the next day.

Ho! Tom Bombadil, Tom Bombadillo!

By water, wood and hill, by the reed and willow,

By fire, sun and moon, harken now and hear us!

Come, Tom Bombadil, for our need is near us!”

Pg#: 131

Comments and Questions:
Now it’s time that Frodo and his friends get going. They’ve spent the past two days at Tom Bombadil’s residence eating feasts fit for kings, hearing plenty of fire-side stories, and getting a profuse amount of sleep. I predict that that “help me” rhyme will come in handy. An author doesn’t just offhandedly mention things like that for the fun of it. Really though, it’s the hobbit version of 9-1-1. Tom Bombadil is probably thinking: “this motley bunch of amateur hikers might not make it through the forest before trouble finds them again. Out of the goodness of my heart I’ll mention this emergency call so that when they’re in a bind they can get out of it. I am master of the forest anyways, so I’m responsible for them too. Protecting that ring is a good idea.”