For a few days there had been hope.

Then the father sickened, and all the grownup persons had died almost together, save the mother, and had been taken away the night before last.
What had happened since was dim and confused to the children.

Their mother had seemed like one stunned--had hardly noticed them, or attended to their wants.

Then two of them had been taken away into the other room.

They had heard their mother weeping aloud for a while, but she would not let them in to her.