The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-08-12
JOHN AND JAMES.

Iy over the Otner OF ABOUT uVe uiH
utes. While still in the cradle they
were named John and James, and
their mother marked them with rib.
bons, John with a red and James with
a blue.
| When they reached the proper age
they were sent to the district school,
still wearing the colored ribbons by
which to distinguish them, and so it
happened that they got the nick
names of Red Jack and Blue Jim.
Both were full of pranks and kept
their teacher in constant worry. II
Jack did something for which he ex-
pected reprimand, he would ex-
change ribbons with Jim, and the
teacher could not tell which one to
punish.
At sixteen the twins were sent to
college in distant State. where their
wonderful resemblance led to much
sport among the college boys and
held the faculty at great disadvan-
tage.
Both boys were athletic and joined
the base ball 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 pre-
sented her lover with ring as mark
of recognition.
But the fun loving spirits of the
twins led them to play jokes even on
their sweethearts, and the rings and
ribbons were often transferred, and
while Jack called upon Jennie jim
would be visiting with Mary.
Jack said Mary on one of these
occasions when she was entertaining
Jim unawares, father says when we
get married he will set you up in bus
iness."
"That is very good of him. said
Jim, "but I don't intend to marry
you."
What 7" said Mary.
"I said that did not intend to
marry you. This thing has got to
stop. I'm tired of it. And, rising,
he departed, leaving the girl in tears.
At the same time Jim was discard
ing Mary Jack was with Jennie.
"Jim," said Jennie, "when are you
and to be married?"
"Never," replied Jack.
"Then is it all over between us,
asked Jennie.
eyes, it is" replied Jack. "This
thing has gone far enough. I'm
tired of it,
Jack then took his departure, leav-
ing behind him another disconsolate
girl.
Neither one said a word to the
other about what had transpired, and
the next day when the twins were
out walking, wearing their proper
colors, they met Mary and Jennie.
The boys stopped to have chat, but
the two girls passed them without
look.
"What is the matter now," asked
Jack.
"I don't know" replied Jim" but
something serious must have hap
pened.
"Say," he continued, what did you
say to Jennie yesterday"
"Oh, nothing" Jack replied, "only
told her was tired of her and refus-
ed to marry"
"And you told her that?"
IT did,"
"Well, I'll be hanged |" said Jim.
"I told Mary the same thing
"That settles it," said Jack
we've got to square ourselves some
how"
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
professor 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, "I'll
just keep still and see what comes of
it."
He soon found out that 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 rib
bons with him.
Jim chanced to appear before the
professor 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 Jack" asked the other
one day, 'or am r."
"I'll be hanged if / can tell" re-
piled the other. "We've been chang
| ing SO much of late that I don know
who / am"
When they graduated neither one
could tell if he got the right diploma
or not, and when they went home
they were so badly mixed in their
minds that they were hopelessly lost.
As they had grown up together
they decided to gointo partnership in
business, and soon after they married
their oldtime sweethearts, Mary and
Jennie, and became happy and pros
porous 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 is sometimes positive
that she married Jack.
STUBB-The idea of naming cigar
after that boodling politician ]
think it's an outrage.
| Panu-So do I He ic en- had fheV