Original Penny Readings: A Series of Short Sketches

"Original Penny Readings: A Series of Short Sketches" by George Manville Fenn is a selection of brief stories that looks at life in the 1800s. The pages show different people and how they live, taking a close look at what people thought and how they acted. The stories show the hard lives of working-class people, with their problems and good qualities on full display. It starts with a lesson about being grateful for what you have and not wanting what others have. The first story talks about different kinds of pots, teaching that doing useful work is more important than just looking good. Then, a new worker is told about the custom of "paying the footing," which shows the good and bad sides of friendship among workers. It gives a serious look at how hard life could be for working people and suggests that helping each other is important.