Those curtains in the cheery fire-light were something to remember.

From The Reeves, Mercer, Newkirk families; a compilation by Lillian Reeves Wyatt published in 1956. Researching the Mercer family line.

A charming vignette having nothing to do with the line I am searching:

Aunt Bia used to take us to “walk in the woods,” usually on Sunday afternoon. In the fall, we would gather autumn leaves, sweet gum leaves with their rich coloring of reds, wines, garnets. Poplars in every shade of yellow. Oaks in rich browns and so on. She would take them and carefully press them. When dry, would run a warm iron over them with bees-wax. Then, the long curtain for the three windows in the living room would be decorated with these leaves, across the valances and down the side. I’ve never seen more beautiful applique. Those curtains in the cheery fire-light were something to remember.