CHAPTER 1<br >Messenger Boy<br > The sky was clear and the air felt crisp as twelve-year-<br >old Matthew Talbot walked briskly down the narrow<br >streets of Dublin. He was excited today and felt grown up<br >as he hurried toward the company of Edward and John<br >Burke， wine merchants. The boy stopped at the edge of the<br >property and let his eyes survey his new place of employ-<br >ment.<br > What Matt was doing was not unusual for the son of<br >poor Irish parents. He wanted to work to help support the<br >family. Besides， his year of schooling with the Christian<br >Brothers had been enough school to last him for a lifetime，<br >he had decided. He could read and write if he struggled<br >and forced himself beyond what he wanted to. But now<br >school was finished for him and he was going to do<br >something important.<br > As Matt approached the Burke Company office， he<br >could imagine the face of his mother glowing with pride as<br >he would bring home his first pay. He imagined the joy his<br >father would feel at Matt s accomplishment. He knew his<br >father would whisper to Mrs. Talbot that their son was<br >mature far beyond his years. It was a good feeling to be<br >grown up.<br >