At the end of a week, I gave up all hope of saving the
children, and made no more vain attempts to control a disease that
had gone on from tie beginning, steadily breaking away the
foundations of life. To diminish the suffering of my little
patients, and make their passage from earth to Heaven as easy as
possible, was now my only care.
On the mother's part, there was no sign of wavering. Patiently,
tenderly, faithfully did she minister to her little ones, night and
day. No lassitude or weariness appeared, though her face, which grew
paler and thinner every day, told the story of exhausting nature.
She continued in the same state of mind I have described; never for
an instant, as far as I could see, receding from a full consent to
their removal.
One morning, in making my usually early call at the Allen House, I
saw, what I was not unprepared to see, a dark death sign on the
door.
"All over?" I said to the servant who admitted me.
"Yes, sir, all is over," she replied.
"Both gone?"
"Yes, sir, both."
Tears were in her eyes.
"When did they die?"
"About midnight.
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