The Wasp — 1877 — page 305: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a 12-panel humorous narrative titled "An O'er True Tale" following a character named Young Brown. The story depicts Brown encountering a lion, being robbed of his clothes, and receiving a charitable newspaper (The Wasp) from the robber. Brown uses the newspaper to make himself "fairly presentable," then brings it home where he finds a "sweet creature" seeking companionship. They marry, and the robber becomes godfather to their child. The satire appears to promote *The Wasp* magazine itself—suggesting that possessing the publication transforms one's circumstances from destitute to respectable and fortunate. It's essentially self-promotional advertising disguised as an entertaining moral tale about providence and the magazine's social value.