A Story about the Late Mr Gladstone.

Manawatu Herald, 26 May 1898, Page 3

A Story about the Late Mr Gladstone.

Mr Gladstone once opened a workmen's institute, and after the ceremony was completed the right hon. gentleman and several others were invited to partake of tea. One of the company made the remark to Mr Gladstone that he had recently been speaking to a gentleman who knew him at the time when he (the statesman) was a boy at school. "What is his name?" inquired the statesman! » Mr , of Liverpool," was the reply. "Indeed!" ejaculated Mr Gladstone ; " and did he tell you Anything particular concerning our schooldays?" " Oh, yes ; he said that you and he once fought, and that you thoroughly thrashed him." " Ah ! I thought he would remember that ; and did he tsll you what it was that we fought about ?" eagerly inquired the veteran with apparent warmth. " No, sir, he did not," was the reply. " Then I will tell you. He induced me to steal some strawberries from a field, and when I had done so, he wanted to take all the best of them. Now, as I had run all the risk of detection, I was determined not to let him have them, and I thrashed him, and I stuck to my strawberries. " And . when you see your friend again will you kindly remember me to him, and tell him that I'm not sure whether I could repeat the operation to-day, as I have not seen bim for many years, and I do not know what condition he is in ; but I will mention this fact to you : the field of strawberries was where Bold Street, Liverpool, now stands."