The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-01-31
CHAPTER |.


make inquiry of himself.
John Rawn was born in Texas
and of Texas at The very spot where,
had it been left TO his own candid
opinion, no John Rawn, no especial
hero. ought ever to have been born
The village he honored by his birth
one of seven which now cont nd over
that claim to fan1e-was the very
home of democratic equality; and
how could the home Of democratic
equality be called typical environment
for the production Of man believing
in the divine right of very few?
Neither, had John Rawn been con-
suited in the matter, would he have
indorsed the plans of fate in respect
to his ancestry any more than he did
the workings of the misguided stars
in regard to his environment. BY
right he should have been the off
spring Of parents for long generations
accustomed to rule, to command, to
sway the destinies of others. Yet far
from this was the truth in our hero's
case.
1t was rarely that ever a smile en-
livened the somewhat heavy features
Of young John RaWn, even in the ear
.liest stages of, his babyhood. Rarely
did the mirth of any situation bring
I'D in his face an answering dawn Of
appreciation. He was serious child,
as all admitted even from the inst.
He grew to be grave boy, solemn
youth.
Curious persons might have found
certain explanations for these traits
in the calling, the temper and train
ing of. the father Of John Rawn. In
that time and place, minister of the
gospel was a man of whom all stood
in awe. He was not much gainsaid,
not much withstood, not much dsap-
proved. His conclusions were an
nounced for acceptance, not for ar
gument.
1t is not known, nor is it important,
whence Mrs. Rawn came, or how she
happened to marry her lord, John
Rawn, Senior, the Methodist preacher
in the little Texas town. They were
married when they arrived at this
place, and had been for some years.
John was the first child granted to
them as answer to his fathers grum-
bling; the latter, very nobly and
righteously, dreading what calamity
the world must suffer did none come
to perpetuate his race.
These necessary and essential pre-
liminaries now all stand adjusted;
and we are able finally to say that
John Rawn at least and at last was
born, silently, quietly, with small re-
bellion on the part of his mother. He
lay there in his first cradle, silent, a
trife red, a slight frown upon his
face, q trace of gravity II his fea-
lures as he ventured an introspective
look within the confines Of his couch,
and for the first time discovered that
wholly interesting, remarkable, in6',1d
wonderful human being, Himself.
Having assured himself that he was
here, John Rawn sighed, turned over
in his cradle, and presently fell asleep,
we'll assured that, although He had
selected Texas for this event, God
after all was in His heaven, and that,
in the circumstance, all in due time
would be we'll with the world. Could
any hero of his years have acted with
a finer, a larger generosity?
In his younger school days there
was a way about young Mr.. Rawn.
He did not really care for plodding
yet he was aggrieved if not accorded
rank among his fellow pupils.
Even in these early days his fea-
lures were in large mold, even then
his abundant hair fell across his brow.
His eyes were blue and prominent, his
nose distinct, his lower lip prominent
protruding and in times Of great emo
ton semi-pendulous. Even thus early
he seemed old. serious, foreordained.
Much of this might have been RENE
died by kindly application Of educa-
tional or parental rod, but young Mr..
Rawn remained largely unchastened.
His parents did not care to punish
him, and his teacher did not dare to
do so. Was he not the minister's son?
If his mother had misgivings they
were we'll concealed. She herself only
i. shuddered in her soul when she heard
the orotund voice of the master OF
the house explain, in contemplation OF
his first born, How much he is like
mel" Yes, he was like. His mother
knew how like.
At that time and in that part Of the
country this little western village
might have been called almost little
world of itself. Estimates Of men and
saffairs were such only as might grow
out Of the soil. The great world be-
yond was thing but vaguely sensed
Of any who dwelt here.
The family was its own world. In
large part it titled it's own fields and
ran it's own factories. Mrs Rawn