02194cam a22003133u 4500 34666 UtSlPG 20260610133806.0 m cr n 260607r2010||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PR Fenn, George Manville, 1831-1909 Original Penny Readings: A Series of Short Sketches Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2010 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Release date is 2010-12-15 Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England "Original Penny Readings: A Series of Short Sketches" by George Manville Fenn is a collection of short sketches written in the mid-19th century. The work reflects on various aspects of life, likely weaving in social commentary and observations about different characters’ experiences and attitudes. Through these sketches, the author aims to capture common human conditions and social dynamics, offering insights into the struggles and virtues of working-class life. The opening of the collection introduces the theme of appreciating one's own worth and discourages envy of those in seemingly better circumstances. The narrative begins with a metaphor involving pots of different qualities, emphasizing that utility and resilience in labor—represented by the "common red ware"—are more valuable than mere ornamentation. Using the backdrop of a work setting, the narrator encounters a new worker struggling with the workplace customs regarding "paying the footing," highlighting issues of camaraderie versus exploitation among laborers. The passage sets a tone of social awareness, as well as the stark realities that working-class individuals face, while hinting at the theme of helping one another in a harsh world. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified Fiction Short stories https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/34666 75512 75512