126 TOM’S EXPERIENCE 
@ musician, so in the selection of our furnishings [ 
would have made some most discordant combinations. 
Therefore I turned that work all over to my wife. 
Good taste in such things seems to come natural to 
most women. Men feel the influence of it, but 
could no more produce the same effects than they 
could play one of Mozart’s compositions on the grand 
organ. | 
Several times I ventured a suggestion, but soon 
saw my mistake, and so left the selections entirely to 
my wife, and when they came together in the house 
everything fit charmingly in its place, just as if it 
had been made for it specially. We men don’t know 
how this is done, but most of us can appreciate it 
after it is done. 
The purchases were not needlessly expensive, but 
they were all good and appropriate ; and there is a 
great deal in that latter word. When everything was 
arranged, each room was in itself a neat and perfect 
picture, and each was in harmony with the others; 
and when it was all done, I am sure our roof covered 
more genuine happiness than is often found in a 
palace. 
My experience is nearly ended. It would be tedi- 
ous and*not profitable to go into the details of my 
spring seeding and other work, or to give, as I have 
done several times in the preceding pages, itemized 
statements of expenses. The work is mostly routine, 
and the expenses vary but little from year to year. [ 
have endeavored to give descriptions of the work and 
