“Joe.”

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 16 November 1929, Page 18

“Joe.”

The station master had given the right-away to the 7 o’clock -when he saw a hand holding out a brown paper •bag from an approaching 2nd smoker. < “iSome poor -chap’s lunch,” he thought las 'he grasped the offering. He emptied { it on his pad under the office lamp, when out tumbled a very small black ! kitten, green-eyed and tailless, i It yawned, stretched forth a V)shaped pink tongue, and smelt the inkwell , appraisingly. “What a bosker; we want a cat, here,” spoke the junior porter. “We’ll call him Joe, as he come on Joe Walsh’s train.” And so Joe joined I the staff at .Lindfiokl station. He I lived at the SjM. ’s house for a few months, and then came on duty each morning at (5 o ’clock with the officer. Tom Coleman, the milkman, also visited the station at. that hour daily and left a glass of milk regularly for the kitty, which may have had something to do with Joe’s close attendance to duty. In those far-off days- the double line ended at Lindfield, and every alternate train reversed its engine and {ran back to Milson’s Point. These 1 trains became Joe’s special care, and he walked in a stately way after the porter as the latter called out, “All change here” at the carriage windows. If a passenger failed to alight, the porter would enter the ear and explain matters. Joe always entered and followed the late arrival out. In between trains Joe rested on a seat under the huge tree fern near the fountain, and here he held court each school day to an admiring acquaintance of schoolgirls of all ages. Came the dreadful day when he was reported ‘‘missing.” Two daring girls coaxed him into the i YVahroonga train, holding him there 1 despite his indignant protests. AVhen they alighted he followed them to a very select ladies’ college, where his presence proved embarrassing. His abductors decided to hide him in a book cupboard until luncheon hour. The school started work with a morning hymn. Poor Joe had no religious training, but he did his best, and lifted his voice with the whole school. Unfortunately, “Amen’-’ meant nothing to him, and his shrill alto “meou” went on for a few bars alone! A shocked headmistress liberated the soloist, and two lucky girls accompanied him to his home station. One of the sinners is now the -wife of a church dignitary in another State! After ths break Joe lived a tranquil life. Strange to say he never visited the station on a Sunday—there were no changing trains on Sundays! He became the most talked-to -cat on the North Shore line. The duplication of the line to Hornsby was his undoing. As his faithful friend, the junior porter, remarked: “How was Joe to know all trains were to run past?” One. fatal morn poor Joe lingered on the | 7.30. It dashed away to Hornsby in- I stead of running round to the up road. I 'AVhen Joe realised this he sprang out and rolled under a wheel. TTis remains were reverently buried by the sorrowing staff and every school child mourned him.