At meal times the custom prevailed of reading aloud, the person whose turn it might be, first having some light food, and after the reading was finished, "in regard of his forbearance, always having the advantage of some more food than his fellows!" The reading was to be something "delightful and easy, such as stories of sea voyages, descriptions of foreign countries, their rise and fall, and illustrated by the particular actions of eminent persons." And in order that these stories might not be forgotten, it was further arranged that notes (or "a summary collection") should be taken of everything worthy of attention, and that these notes should afterwards be transcribed, and put into language fitted to the capacity of the children, who then had, in turn, to recite the stories. This practice brought the boys into a habit of delivering any speech with assurance and good manner, and of expressing themselves in a becoming and elegant style. They also became thoroughly acquainted with ancient and modern history, and knew and understood the great affairs of life better than many who lived more in the world. Analogous to this, and no doubt a development of it, were "The maiden-sisters exercises." These were conversations or dialogues recited by the Miss Colletts, illustrative of some special virtue, and always enforced by examples taken from history. The sisters, for this purpose, were known by such titles as The Patient, The Cheerful, The Affectionate, etc., and formed themselves into what they called "The Little Academy," of which Mary Collett was "The Chief," Mrs. Collett was called "The Moderator," John Ferrar "The Guardian," and Nicholas Ferrar "The Visitor." The subjects and the substance of the exercises were supplied by Nicholas Ferrar himself, but the sisters were left to compile them in their own words. They were prepared some time beforehand, and after they had been recited were transcribed into books kept for the purpose. Four folio volumes of these "conversations" are still in existence, and are, no doubt, in the handwriting of Mary and Ann Collett. They are bound in black leather, stamped with gilt lines, and with gilt edges, and have been passed on from one member of the family to another to the present owner, a Mr. Mapletoft Davis, living in Australia. {20} Some idea of the general plan of these "exercises" may be gathered from the following notes taken from the manuscripts.