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FOR JOHN'S SAKE; AND OTHER STORIES.

[Illustration: _Frontispiece._

"Ruth advanced to the table, and with trembling hands put her full glass
down."--_Page 4._]




FOR JOHN'S SAKE

AND OTHER STORIES.

BY

ANNIE FRANCES PERRAM.

_Author of "That Boy Mick," "Go Work," "The Opposite House," &c._

[Illustration]

  LONDON:
  WESLEYAN METHODIST SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION
  2 AND 3 LUDGATE CIRCUS BUILDINGS; 2 CASTLE STREET, CITY ROAD, E.C.




PREFACE.


IT is probable that many of these pages may be read with the comforting
conviction that the scenes they depict and the lives they lightly
sketch, in no way come within the range of possibility; but to any
reader so little acquainted with the snares and perils, the misery and
degradation that lay outside the pale of Total Abstinence, the assurance
is tendered that the darkest pictures contained in this collection of
stories are minutely faithful to life, and that the saddest incidents
related have occurred under the personal observation, or within the
knowledge of the writer.

                                                            A. F. P.




CONTENTS.


          FOR JOHN'S SAKE.

                                                              Page

          CHAPTER I. AFRAID FOR HERSELF                          1

             "   II. JOHN'S BROTHER                              9

             "  III. HOPES AND FEARS                            15

             "   IV. QUITE UNLIKE HIMSELF                       21

             "    V. A CHANGE OF OPINIONS AND OF HOUSEMAIDS     28

             "   VI. THE NEW HOUSEMAID                          35

             "  VII. THE FATE OF RUTH'S LETTER                  42

             " VIII. A HAPPY ENDING                             47


          HOW THE FOE CREPT IN.

          CHAPTER I. MODERATE DRINKING                          56

             "   II. ITS RESULTS                                63


          THE COMMITTEE'S DECISION                              80

          THE RIGHT HAND THAT OFFENDED                          85

          "OUT OF THE WAY"                                      99

          TIM MALONEY'S PIG                                    109

          THE MOTHER'S MISTAKE                                 119

          THE CHILDREN'S SUPPER                                129

          ROLAND WEST'S MARK                                   134

          HOW A HUSBAND WAS LOST AND FOUND                     146

          DOWNWARD STEPS                                       170

          HOW JARVIS WAS SAVED                                 178

          WHY THE ANGELS REJOICED                              185




[Illustration]




FOR JOHN'S SAKE.




CHAPTER I.

AFRAID FOR HERSELF.


"I SAY, John."

"Well, Ruthie."

"Master's just rung, and he says he wants you and me to come upstairs
together."

"What for, I wonder! Don't look so troubled, little woman;" and John,
the well-built, broad-shouldered gardener, looked up with an
unmistakable glance of affection at the somewhat clouded face of Ruth,
the trim, neat parlour-maid, who had come into the conservatory to bring
him the message from the dining-room. "I'll just wash my hands and be
ready in a minute," he continued, following her into the kitchen. With
much inward trepidation, Ruth, accompanied by John, entered the
dining-room a few minutes later.

Mr. and Mrs. Groombridge, their eldest son, who was a medical student;
three daughters, and one or two younger boys were seated at the nearly
finished dessert.

"Well, John, I dare say you wonder why we sent for you and Ruth; but the
fact is, your mistress heard from cook this morning a piece of news
which you have been sly enough to keep from us," said Mr. Groombridge.
Ruth blushed violently, and withdrew a little behind John's burly
figure.

"There's nothing to be ashamed of, Ruth; indeed, you've every reason to
be proud and happy," added Mr. Groombridge, with a kind look and kinder
tone. There was no mistaking the assent that was visible in Ruth's shy
uplifted eyes. She was proud and happy, and she involuntarily moved a
step nearer to John.

"We thought you would like to know, John," continued his master, "how
really glad we are that you and Ruth have settled this little affair
between you. You have both been good, faithful servants, and deserve to
be 'happy ever after,' as the story-books say. Now we want to drink to
your health and future happiness, and you must drink with us."

Mr. Groombridge poured out two glasses of wine, and handed them to John
and Ruth.

"Your health and happiness, John and Ruth," he said, draining his own
glass.

"Your health and happiness, John and Ruth," repeated his wife and
children, with their glasses to their lips.

"And when I go in for matrimony, John, may my choice be as wise as
yours," added the eldest son, whose partiality for Ruth was no secret.

"No doubt you would like to choose some one who would be as ready as
Ruth to fly at your beck and call, and think nothing too great a trouble
to do for you, Master Harry," saucily remarked his younger sister Kate,
in an aside.

"Hush, my dear; little girls of sixteen know nothing about such serious
things," gravely responded Harry. Kate tossed her