She and another widow were in this house. you could have stirred us with a stick. (...) What does the underlined figurative language contribute to the meaning of this section? It allows the reader to understand how dirty and unlivable the house was. It allows the reader to visualize how cramped and crowded the house was. It allows the reader to realize that the narrator is hoping her children will make new friends. It allows the reader to sympathize with how poor and desolate the families are.