The Alderman and the Raccoon

by Ambrose Bierce

　　"I SEE quite a number of rings on your tail," said an Alderman to a Raccoon that he met in a zoological garden."Yes," replied the Raccoon, "and I hear quite a number of tales on your ring."The Alderman, being of a sensitive, retiring disposition, shrank from further comparison, and, strolling to another part of the garden, stole the camel.