It was she who looked out for the education of the children and saw what their capacities were.
Mr.Mitchell was a man of great suavity and gentleness; if left to himself he would never have denied a single request made to him by one of his children.

His first impulse was to gratify every desire of their hearts, and if it had not been for the clear head of the mother, who took care that the household should be managed wisely and economically, the results might have been disastrous.

The father had wisdom enough to perceive this, and when a child came to him, and in a very pathetic and winning way proffered some request for an unusual indulgence, he generally replied, "Yes, if mother thinks best." Mr.Mitchell was very fond of bright colors; as they were excluded from the dress of Friends, he indulged himself wherever it was possible.

If he were buying books, and there was a variety of binding, he always chose the copies with red covers.

Even the wooden framework of the reflecting telescope which he used was painted a brilliant red.