The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-21
WELSH JOTTINGS,

Tom Rogers, a fifer in the Radnor
Militia, who had been in the service for
over H1ty years, was q well-known per-
former in the Kings service during the
later quarter of the eighteenth century
lie was engaged in many musical COM
petitions with the fifers of other regi-
ments than that which he belonged to,
ana 1t Is recorded that he was always
successful i'm gaining the prize. He is
said to have been in his time unrivalied.
The poor fellow at his discharge OBJ
tained the Chelsea pension, which
means that he had served till he was
invalided. He was journeying towards
his native hills, and within sight of his
birthplace (Presteign) when he per-
ished in the snow; and most eXtraordi-
nary, this was not his first time to die.
Some time previous, while on an active
duty, he scraped together few shll-
ings, and i'm order to do so he nearly
starved himself. He fell sick, and his
life was despaired of. The surgeon in
formed an officer, who was also a
Welshman. who is said to be q most
generous hearted officer, that Poor
Roger was dying" The nurse went
further, and told him that TON was
dead" The kind officer again went to
see him. and to have last glance at
what he termed the honest piper He
thought it possible that the thread Of
life might yet be spliced, and forced
some brandy down his throat out of his
own bottle. Roger recovered and lived
to thank his kind benefactor. God
bless your honour" said he, "and l
hope if ever 1 die again it will be by
your Honour's side, and that you will
not let me be buried without trying
another drop of your good brandy
Strange to say, this officer after some
years left the regiment, and went to re-
side at PresteiEn, and was, accidentally.
one of the first spectators of poor Tom
Rogers fate, but life was now COM
pletely extinguished, and every effort
to restore it was ineffective. He was
buried at Presteign graveyard in the
year 1901.
Responding to the toast of the Welsh
pulpit at the Cardiff Cymrodorion BAN
quet on st. David's Eve, Principal Ed
wards concluded n fine peroratiOn with
the following impromptu lines:
Thou morning star of our beloved Wales!
That shone of old upon her hills and dales:
Z zen when the darkness was profound, SUI
preme,
The Pulpit with a bright and steady beam
Cleaned till the gadsome day succeeded
night,
And Wales was filled with Heavens own
glorious light.
AS in the past. so in the years to be
Ine Pulplt Will commune strong ana 1rees
And from it's GOd-given throne will sway
again,
The passion, yea, the lives Of countless
men.
Let knowledge widen, and let wealth in
crease,
Let commerce thrive beneath the smiles of
peace
Lei Cambria's noble ship sail DER the sea,
And waited on by breeZes soft and free:
Let still the Holy Book be chart on board.
Let still her Captain be our Common Lord;
Yea. let the Pulpit be the constant guide
OF Cymru Fydd through all the changing
tide
OF the uncertain future. then she'll be
The happy country of the good and free:
Hen wlad y menyg gwyniOn then will still
Climb high the slopes of virtues sun-lit
hill;
And through the ages then her fame goes
down,
Even as the loveliest gem in Britain's
Crown.
"A man may sometimes stoop to conquer.
Frank Edwards, the comic singer, was In
terrupted by q man In the audience who