Read a traditional Cherokee story about the possum's tail.

The possum once had a beautiful tail. But because he bragged about it all the time, the other animals decided to teach him a lesson. They invited him to a beauty contest, but secretly shaved his tail bare. When all the animals laughed at him, the possum was so embarrassed that he fell down and pretended to be dead, which he does to this day. He lost his beautiful tail because he bragged too much.

Emissaries of Peace: The 1762 Cherokee & British Delegations Exhibit catalog

Museum of the Cherokee Indian