The Wasp — 1889 — page 421: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page presents two satirical stories about a turkey at Christmas, illustrated with six wood-cut style drawings. The first story, "A Modern Replica" by Frank H. Gasaway, depicts Mr. Blitzen's acquisition and fate of a spectral turkey. The narrative mocks romantic poetry while describing the bird's haunting presence and the protagonist's growing debt—the turkey becomes a burden he cannot afford ("I come for that small bill ye owe"). The second story, "I Come for That Small Bill Ye Owe" by Allan S. Botsford, presents a debtor haunted by creditors, paralleling the turkey narrative. The satirical point appears to be commentary on holiday excess, debt, and financial anxiety—replacing traditional Christmas joy with dread of unpaid bills and ghostly consequences.