Mrs. Washington devoted herself to the education of her two children, six and four years of age at the time of her marriage with Washington. Had their own father been living, he could not have co-operated with their mother more cheerfully and tenderly than Washington did. Their father left a fortune to each of them, and that fact determined the character and methods of their training, agreeable to the custom of that day and locality. The following order for articles for the children is quite instructive as to the management of the Mount Vernon home: "For Master Custis, _6 years old_." "One piece Irish Holland, at 4s. "Two yards fine cambric, at 10s. "Six pocket handkerchiefs, small and fine. "Six pairs gloves. "Two laced hats. "Two pieces India nankeen. "Six pairs fine thread stockings. "Four pairs coarser do. "Four pairs worsted do. "Four pairs strong shoes. "Four pairs pumps. "One summer suit of clothes, to be made of some thing light and thin. "Three fine ivory combs. "Two horn do. and two brushes. "One piece black hair-ribbon. "One pair handsome silver shoe and knee buckles. "Six little books for children beginning to read. "One light duffel cloak with silver frogs. "10s. worth of toys." "For Miss Custis, _4 years old_." "Eight yards fine printed linen, at 3s. 6d. "One piece Irish Holland, at 4s. "Two ells fine Holland, at 10s. "Eight pairs kid mits. "Four pairs gloves. "Two pairs silk shoes. "Four pairs Calimanco do. "Four pairs leather pumps. Six pairs fine thread stockings. "Four pairs worsted do. "Half piece flowered dimity. "Two yards fine cambric, at 10s. "Two caps, two pairs ruffles, two tuckers, bibs, and aprons, if fashionable. "Two fans, two masks, two bonnets. "Two m. minikins, one cloth cloak. "One stiffened coat of fashionable silk, made to packthread stays. "Six yards ribbon. "Two necklaces. "One pair silver sleeve buttons, with stone. "One fashionable, dressed baby, 10s., and other toys, 10s. "Six pocket handkerchiefs." This insight into the early wedded life of Washington, a hundred and twenty years ago, upsets the notions of those people, in our day, who suppose that the sway of fashion belongs to modern times only. Mrs. Washington was proverbially kind to her slaves, though not more so than her husband. They constituted a part of her family, for whom she had to provide both in health and sickness. This fact explains several entries in his journal concerning the quantity of provisions used. For example, one entry is, "Although we keep one hundred and one cows, we have to buy some butter."