The old fireplace had been boarded up many years before Aunt Sarah's advent to the farm, so it could not be used.

One day Mary noticed, while dusting the room (after it had been given a thorough sweeping by Sibylla, Aunt Sarah's one maid servant), that the small, many-paned windows facing the East, at one end of the parlor, when opened, let in a flood of sunshine; and in the evening those at the opposite end of the long room gave one a lovely view of the setting sun--a finer picture than any painted by the hand of a master.

Mary easily persuaded her Aunt to make some changes in the unlivable room.

She suggested that they consult her Uncle about repapering and painting the room and surprise him with the result when finished.
Aunt Sarah, who never did things by halves, said: "Mary, I have long intended 'doing over' this room, but thought it such a great undertaking.

Now, with your assistance, I shall make a sweep of these old, antiquated heirlooms of a past generation.