The Wasp — 1887 — page 465: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains two distinct sections: **"A Brakeman's Christmas Story"** (left column): A sentimental narrative about a railroad worker named Stingy Wheeler recounting a past Christmas. The story emphasizes moral redemption—Wheeler recalls abandoning a pregnant woman years ago, only to encounter her again, learning she's forgiven him. The tale promotes virtue and regret, typical of Victorian-era sentimental fiction. **"A Poetic Beverage"** (right column): A humorous poem praising various beverages, presented as advertising/sponsored content for beverage brands. The page is primarily **textual content rather than visual satire**—no political cartoons appear here. It represents The Wasp's mixture of sentimental fiction and advertorial material rather than its satirical cartooning function.