Berachoth, fol. 30, col. 2, and fol. 31, col. 1. A man once laid a wager with another that he would put Hillel out of temper. If he succeeded he was to receive, but if he failed he was to forfeit, four hundred zouzim. It was close upon Sabbath-eve, and Hillel was washing himself, when the man passed by his door, shouting, " Where is Hillel? where is Hillel?

Hillel wrapped his mantle round him and sallied forth to see what the man wanted. " I want to ask thee a question,* was the reply. "Ask on, my son," said Hillel. Whereupon the man said, " I want to know why the Babylonians have such round heads? " A very important question, my son," said Hillel; " the reason is because their midwives are not clever." The man went away, but after an hour he returned, calling out as before, "Where is Hillel? where is Hillel?

Hillel again threw on his mantle and went out, meekly asking, "What now, my son?" "I want to know," said he, " why the people of Tadmor are weak-eyed? " Hillel replied, "This is an important question, my son, and the reason is this, they live in a sandy country." Away went the man, but in another hour's time he returned as before, crying out, " Where is Hillel? where is Hillel? " Out came Hillel again, as gentle as ever, blandly requesting to know what more he wanted. " I have a question to ask," said the man.

"Ask on, my son," said Hillel. "Well, why have the Africans such broad feet?" said he. " Because they live in a marshy land," said Hillel. "I have many more questions to ask," said the man, "but I am afraid that I shall only try thy patience and make thee angry." Hillel, drawing his mantle around him, sat down and bade the man ask all the questions he wished. " Art thou Hillel," said he, "whom they call a prince in Israel?"

"Yes," was the reply. "Well," said the other, " I pray there may not be many more in Israel like thee!" "Why," said Hillel, "how is that?" "Because," said the man, " I have betted four hundred zouzim that I could put thee out of temper, and I have lost them all through thee. " " Be warned for the future, " said