He had a lot of admiration for his uncle, not only for the things he had done and had achieved but also for the way he carried himself, his good manners and his inherent kindness. In certain ways he reminded Blackie of his mother. This was partially to do with his coloring, the reddish-blond hair and his handsome looks.… Blackie thought his mother had been a female copy of Uncle Pat. He knew he got his Black Irish looks from his father’s side of the family, not the Kennedys. Thinking of his mother provoked a familiar wave of grief: he was alone in the world. But now he had his uncle and this new chance at a better life.

His thoughts suddenly ran amok and finally settled on the future. He knew he would be trained as an apprentice first, but when would he start working as a navvy? He thought that would be the second step. That was the work that drew so many men from Ireland.

His uncle had told him ages ago that building canals and railways was a tough job and he wouldn’t consider it until he, Blackie, was older. They would obviously be embarking on this stage of his training in a couple of years, seemingly because of the money.

Blackie smiled inwardly, realizing when he thought of making money that particular word was always writ large, in capital letters, in his mind.

Building. That was what he aimed to do one day. Building beautiful houses for those who wanted one and could afford it. It was his dream, and he would strive to make it come true.

Eleven

If Upper Armley had charmed Blackie with its country-village appearance, then the city of Leeds bowled him over with its splendor.

On Saturday morning, Blackie and his uncle Patrick took a tram into Leeds, alighting in City Square, and walked over to the center of it.

Blackie was much taken with this paved area, triangular in shape, where six roads met. His uncle, glancing around, immediately explained, “Park Row and Wellington Street, which go east and south, are joined by Infirmary Street, Boar Lane and Bishopsgate Street to the southeast, and Quebec Street is to the southwest. And that big building across there is the new General Post Office, built in 1896. And it was the Lord Mayor of Leeds in 1898 who commissioned William Bakewell to design the square in the style of an Italian piazza, and he did, adding the trees and shrubs. It looks nice, don’t you think?”

“I do!” Blackie exclaimed.

Patrick now continued, “Let’s head up to the Town Hall. I do want you to see that and other places along the way.”