The Alderman and the Raccoon

"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 disposition¹, shrank
from further comparison, and, strolling to another part of the
garden, stole the camel.