A wealthy boy from a prominent family was always pampered and taken care of, but he never had anything to do. He started taking long walks along the gates out front of his mansion, so he could catch a glimpse of the excitement of the town. One day while walking, he spotted a townsman outside the gate who looked just like him. The wealthy boy told the townsman of all the wonders and riches of the mansion, and the townsman spoke of all the gossip and business of his working life. They decided it might be fun to trade places. The townsman loved his new role as a wealthy young man. He ate fine food, watched wonderful entertainment, and wore stunning clothing. The wealthy boy loved his new role as a townsman. He explored the city streets, enjoyed all the sights and smells of the markets, and met all sorts of interesting people. Eventually, though, life at the mansion grew complicated. The wealthy boy's family wanted him to take over the family business, and the townsman grew stressed with his new responsibilities. The wealthy boy was having trouble too. He was having a hard time earning a living, and he was tired and hungry from working all day. The wealthy boy returned to the mansion gates to see the townsman. Life had looked more enchanting on the other side of the gates, but they returned to their rightful roles and were all the more thankful for the blessings of their own lives. Story 2

There were two twin girls who dreamed of being married. The one girl was very intellectual. She loved to read, explore, and learn new things. The other girl was very athletic, and she wanted a husband that shared her same interest in sport and activity. The intellectual twin decided to marry a man who had been an explorer. He had fascinating tales of his travels. The athletic sister decided to marry a very competitive, loving, romantic young man who had a passion for hunting and sport. Both twins were very pleased with their choices and fell much in love with their respective husbands. Eventually though, their love began to fade. The athletic twin grew tired of being in constant competition with her husband. The intellectual twin's brain was being exhausted by the constant learning and testing. The twin sisters decided they would trick their husbands and make a switch. At first, the intellectual sister loved all the attention and competition from her sporty new husband. The athletic sister loved learning of all sorts of new things and loved going on long walks and adventures with her new husband. Eventually, though, the twins were doubly exhausted by the pursuits of their new husbands. They longed to switch back to the familiarity and routine of their own lives. Even though their husbands seemed to be troublesome, they were familiar, and they shared the interests that were best suited to each twin sister.

What is similar about the themes of both stories?