"But without going off to defend or attack the Chinese, let us go on with our own affairs," said Harry. "What came next, mamma; and how did the people get to the printing press?"

"The first improvement made after the printing whole words with wooden blocks, was the making moveable letters ; then the same letters could be used over and over again, and as many made as they pleased. These were first of wood, afterwards they tried metal; and when they had moveable types of metal, they next found the readiest way of fixing these in frames, and of inking and stamping a heavy weight down upon the paper, which was laid over them. There was the printing press."

"What was the name of the man who first made a printing press?" said Lucy. "That is disputed too," said her mother. Some say a man of the name of Scheffer, a servant of a Dr. Faustus, and some say Faustus. Poor Dr. Faustus should be allowed the glory of the invention, as it brought him into some difficulties."

"Difficulties! how, mamma, such a great convenience as the art of printing?” said Lucy.

"When he carried a parcel of his printed Bibles from Germany to Paris, and offered them for sale, as manuscripts had formerly been sold, the French, considering the number of copies he had made, and finding them all to a letter the same, which was a degree of exactness beyond what any the best copyist could have accomplished, suspected that he was a wicked magician, and, by threatening to pursue him as such, and to burn him, they extorted his secret from him."

"How cruel!” cried Lucy.

"How unjust!" exclaimed Harry. "I would never have told it to them."

"I would rather have told it than have been burnt alive," said Lucy.

"It is very happy for us that we do not live in those days of ignorance," said their mother. "Men are honoured for inventions now, not persecuted or burned."

"That is a blessing," said Harry. "But,

mother, how much

you

know about print

ing and printers, and printing presses, and all the history of the invention: how could you remember it all, and have it ready for us the very moment we wanted?"

"Very easily, my dear," said his mother, smiling. "Shall I tell

"Shall I tell you how and why? When you went with your father this morning to see the printing press, as I could not go with you, lying on my sofa here, I read an account of printing; for I was determined to be as wise as you, by the time you came back."

"And a great deal wiser, mamma," said Lucy.

"A great deal, because you picked out all the things I did not know, and wanted to know," said Harry. "Thank you,

mother."

His mother asked Harry if he had found out whether there was in Bristol any printing press moved by a steam engine: Harry answered, that he did not know.

"You do not know! but did not you

VOL. II.

put your father in mind to inquire?" said his mother.

"No, I did not," said Harry.

"That is very odd," said Lucy, "you who never forget any thing of that sort."

"It was unlike you, indeed, Harry," said his mother, "you were so intent upon it yesterday. I recollect your surprise and admiration when your father told you of the double printing press, moved by a steam engine, which he had seen in London, where, without hands, the types are pressed against the paper, and the ink spread just in the quantity required over the letters; and which can in one hour print 900 sheets on both sides. My dear Harry, is it possible you can have forgotten this?"

"No, mother; I never said I had forgotten it," answered Harry.

"Then why did not you put your father in mind to inquire whether there was any such printing press in Bristol? When you left me, your head seemed quite full of it."

"But what? pray tell me, for I cannot understand your silence, my dear," said his mother.

"Only I thought, mother, that Lucy would like better to see the plain common printing press first; because she said that she should like so very much to see exactly what is described in the Book of Trades. Therefore I did not ask papa about the steam double printing press, because I thought that would puzzle and hurry her, and that she would not see the thing just as she wished; and you know I can see what I want another time perhaps."

"How very kind, Harry," said Lucy. "So that was your reason, and you did not forget? But you never told me that you gave it all up for me. If mamma had not by accident asked, I should never have known. Oh! Harry, why did not you tell me?"

"What signifies telling, or talking about it," said Harry. "It was nothing, but just what you would do for me. I do not