Produced by Chris Curnow, Lindy Walsh, Emmy and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net 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."