“Good teachers produce apt scholars,” said he, patronizingly patting Gutenberg’s shoulder. “I must wish thee joy of thy apprentice. He takes to the art like a kitten to milk. We must make him one of the firm.” “He is an ingenious workman,” returned Gutenberg, “and we need all the ability of this kind that we can command, for difficulties often occur. I also am in favor of making him a partner.” “Moreover, it is so pleasant to have another with us whom we can trust,” added Faust, “and an old acquaintance of yours. I am suspicious of strangers. Our success depends mainly on keeping our secret.” Happily Schoeffer did not hear all the praise lavished upon him, but he heard enough to incite him to diligence and perseverance. Gutenberg was justly proud of him, and grateful to the kind Providence that had sent him to the Zum Jungen. [Illustration] [Illustration] XV. Schoeffer admitted to the Firm.--A Grand Project.--How a Bible was borrowed.--The Early Press.--Processes in Bookmaking.--Ingenuity of Peter Schoeffer.--Industry of the Firm.--Ink.--Cast Type.-- Three Ingenious Men.--Letter-founding.--Faust compliments Peter.--The First Printed Page of the Bible.--A Memorable Year. We now view the first printing firm industriously cutting type from the metal introduced by Peter Schoeffer, who is one of the partners. Gutenberg, having fully tested it, found with joy that it was the long-sought composition. It was hard enough to bear the necessary pressure, and yet did not perforate the paper or vellum in printing. “This is most opportune to our need,” said he to Peter; “we can now begin to set type for the Bible. The lead _stucke_ must be melted into the new mixture; you shall have charge of it, taking care to reserve some of the best letters for models. We must keep in mind that the care with which the letters are carved will determine the appearance of the book. By lavishing time, ingenuity, and money on the Bible, the monks have produced some elaborate specimens. I see no reason why we may not rival them if we try.” “Of all books the Bible should be in the highest style of our art,” remarked Schoeffer. “True, it should be,” replied Gutenberg; “and as you have cultivated yourself in penmanship, I wish you to instruct the firm in type-cutting. I have thought of a plan by which we can have uniform and elegant letters. It is that you write them on the ends of the metal strips, and let others carve the type from your pattern. This will insure us one style of handwriting throughout the Bible; ever keeping in mind that it is our aim to produce the most beautiful book the world has ever seen,--for it is fitting that this book, of all others, should be issued in the most excellent manner.”