Twins, The

In form and feature, face and limb,         I grew so like my brother,     That folks got taking me for him,         And each for one another.     It puzzled all our kith and kin,         It reach'd an awful pitch;     For one of us was born a twin,         Yet not a soul knew which.     One day (to make the matter worse),         Before our names were fix'd,     As we were being wash'd by nurse         We got completely mix'd;     And thus, you see, by Fate's decree,         (Or rather nurse's whim),     My brother John got christen'd me,         And I got christen'd him.     This fatal likeness even dogg'd         My footsteps when at school,     And I was always getting flogg'd,         For John turned out a fool.     I put this question hopelessly         To every one I knew,     What would you do, if you were me,         To prove that you were you?     Our close resemblance turn'd the tide         Of my domestic life;     For somehow my intended bride         Became my brother's wife.     In short, year after year the same         Absurd mistakes went on;     And when I died, the neighbors came         And buried brother John!