Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-04-06
THE TWINS.

John and James were twins. They were
alike as two peas, and that fact led TO many
complications during their infancy and
later on as they grew up to manhood.
They got mixed at their birth, and IL was
never settled which saw the light Of day
first, question which caused many hot
disputes between the twins, for each claim
ed seniority over the other Of about five
minutes.
While still in the cradle they were nam.
ed John and James, and their mother
marked them with ribbons-John with Q
red and James with blue. Their child.
hood was marked by the usual experiences
Of children, and they passed successfully
through whooping cough, measles and all
the other ills which infant flesh is heir to.
When they reached the proper age, they
were sent to the district school, still wear
ing the colored ribbons by which to dis
tinguish them. and so IL happened that
they got the nicknames Of Red Jack and
Blue Jim.
Both were full of pranks and kept then
teacher In constant worry. IL Jack did
something for which he expected repri-
mand, he would exchange ribbons with
Jim, and the teacher could not tell which
one to punish.
They would frequently go home with
the wrong ribbons on, and their mother
would not know which one she was ad-
dressing.
At 16 the twins were sent to college In
distant state, where their wonderful re-
semblance led TO much sport among the
college boys and held the faculty at a great
disadvantage.
Both boys were athletic and Joined the
cricket, baseball and boat clubs. They
were popular and soon made many friends
and managed to fall In love with sisters.
Jacks sweetheart was named Mary and
Jim's Jennie, and each girl presented hei
lover with a ring as mark OF recognition.
But the fun loving spirits Of the twins
led them TO play jokes even on their sweet
hearts, and the rings and ribbons were OF.
ten transferred, and while Jack called
upon Jennie Jim would be visiting with
Mary
"Jack," said Mary on one Of these oc-
casions when she was entertaining Jim un.
awares, "father says when we get mar
ried he will set you up in business"
"That is very good of him." said Jim.
shut / don't intend 10 marry you"
"Whati" said Mary.
al said that did not intend co marry
you. This thing has got TO stop. I'm tired
of it." and rising he departed, leaving the
poor girl in tears.
At the same time Jim was discardinR
Mary, Jack was with Jennie.
"Jim," said Jennie, "when are you and
to be marriedt'
"Never," replied Jack.
"Then is all over between us'" asked
Jennie.
eyes, il H." replied Jack. "This thing
has gone far enough. I'm tired Of it."
Jack then took his departure, leaving
behind him another disconsolate girl.
Neither one said word 10 the other
about what had transpired, and the next
day, when the twins were out walking.
wearing their proper colors, they met Ma
ry and Jennie. The boys stopped 10 have
a chat, but the two girls passed them by
without a look.
"What is the matter nowi" asked Jack.
al don't know !" replied Jim, "but some
thing serious must have happened.
"Say, "he continued, "what did you say
to Jennie yesterday"
"Oh, nothing" Jack replied, "only told
her was tired of her and refused to mar
ry."
"And you told her that'"
al did"
"Well I'll be hanged" said Jim. 81
told Mary the same thing"
"That settles IL, I" said Jack; "we've got
to square ourselves somehow"
In the evening they called on the girls
and were met in very frigid manner. but
explanations followed, and happiness soon
reigned supreme.
One day Jack was called before a pro-
fessor for violating one of the rules of the
college.
"That must be Jim," thought he, "for
have done nothing out of the way"
However" he continued, "Ill Just
keep still and SEQ what comes OF It."
He soon found out that a tiresome task
had been laid out for him, which would
keep him up half the night.
But Jack did not intend to suffer much
for Jim's fault, and the next morning he
asked Jim to change ribbons with him.
Jim CHANGED TO appear before the pro-
fessor who had set the task the day before
and Of course was taken unawares. He
knew nothing about the matter, excepting
that he was the guilty one, and the double
task put upon him made him pay pretty
well for his shortcomings.
One day the twins got badly mixed up
as to their identity.
"Are you Jacki" asked the other one
day, "or am It'
"Ill be hanged IL / can tell, ;" replied
the other; "we have been changing 80
much Of late that l don't know who
am"
When they graduated, neither one could
tell II he got the right diploma OF not, and
when they went home they were so badly
mixed In their minds that they were hope
lessly lost.
As they had grown up together they de-
cided to go into partnership in business,
and soon after they married their old time
sweethesrts. Mary and Jennie, and be-
came happy and prosperous business men.
But they still are in doubt as to their
identity, and Mary does not know but
what she Is married to Jim, while Jennie
Ia sometimes positive that she married
Jack. Peek Is sun.