The Wasp — 1879 — page 67: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page presents a serialized story titled "John and Jenny" by Salmi Morse, illustrated with multiple engravings. The narrative concerns a working-class couple navigating hardship in what appears to be 1870s-80s Australia (Hoboken, Tasmania are mentioned). The plot involves John, a laborer, and Jenny, who elopes with him despite her father's disapproval. The story follows their struggles—John's banishment, their poverty, and various misadventures including a river incident where Jenny nearly drowns. The text emphasizes melodramatic working-class trials: economic desperation, moral temptation, and physical danger. This appears to be serialized fiction rather than political satire—entertainment for working readers rather than social commentary.