The Portland daily press., 1894-05-29
APoRTLAND PATRIOT.
Interesting and Appropriate Letter from
Mrs. Caroline Dana Howe.

l. U GtO 1SUctOF W GtC Il TOSS.
AS Memorial Day approaches when
thousands upon thousands all over our
land assemble to testify to their graft
tude and interest in those who labored
and suffered and died in answer to their
country's cry of need, there are some
who will look tenderly upon the name
of Adeline M. Walker as belonging to
one of our Portland families, and who
devoted the almost entire energies OF
her last three years of life, toward ale
Waiting the sufferings of our stricken
and dying soldiers in the Naval School
Hospital at Annapolis.
How well the writer recalls her greet
ing two days before she was to leave for
her work there. SWELL" she said, COM
ing into the room in her bright, &C rdial
way known to all her friends, We'll,
my dearl have found my work at
lasti"
Found your work." And what may
it be-" asked with interest.
"You know always wanted to be need
ed somewhere" she replied in her charac-
teristic way. "Our poor soldiers need
me at Annapolis. ] am going"
1t was solemn day, that Sabbath,
when we three faithful friends gathered
in ian upper chamber" on the corner of
Bracket and Walker streets, and
planned, and sewed, and packed and
made her ready for her journey to An
napolis on the morrow. listening the
while, through gathering tears, to the
last words we were ever to hear from
her lips in this life. The next morning
she went forth to her needed" work, and
she did it well. Few labored longer or
more faithfully for the comfort of our
sick and wounded soldiers, never leaving
her post of duty save for a few weeks
visit in our city at one time, in our abb
sence.
On her way hither at that time the
train was captured by the rebels at
including Gen. Fran kiln, taken prisoners
After some delay, however, Miss Walker
was released and allowed to proceed, tax
ing with her money and valuables pri-
vately given her by the soldiers for safe
keeping.
The ensuing year she. was to have been
spared for a longer rest in her native
city. But in attendance upon some
sticken soldiers, brought in during those
last days, she contracted the army fever,
and so passed on with the innumerable
company whose roll call will be heard
OIL ,yor o,,r lond on thie ,napooriaI dow
set apart as sacred to our patriotic dead.
Her loss was deeply felt by all who knew
her here, and especially by the only
near relative left to her, G apt. Joseph
Walker and his wife, Ann Walker, to
whom she stood in the relation of niece,
though seeming like daughter, for
during all their remaining years they
could not speak her name without wish
BILE emotion, so strong had been their
affe ction for her.
A most unfortunate occurrence after
her death Tin strange keeping with much
of her life experience) was the misdirec-
ton ana consequent miscarriage of the
telegram announcing to them her death,
and that the mortal remains were even
then on their way to Portland. The
message only came after the arrival of
the body which had been taken to the
Western cemetery receiving room, await
ing further orders.
It was not, therefore, known that the
body had been carefully embalmed be-
fore leaving Annapolis. So. warned
against contagion, it was borne to Ever
green cemetery, with no last loving look
permitted to these grief stricken rela-
ives.
But today, as we read of the establish
ment of the Ann Wal ker Home here, for
invalids, and feel it as blessed an
nouncement to many lonely, aching
heart, we think how gladly Adeline
Walker would have found in such a
Home "a place where she was needed"
as she SO urgently desired, even in her
own birthplace.
But her labors have ceased. Upon her
grave, on pleasant avenue at Ever