This is the seasonal illustration that greeted subscribers to The Humeston New Era when they opened their newspapers on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 1913, as Thanksgiving approached.
But there was sad news, too, on the front page of this edition --- a short story headlined, "Horse Dies From Fright," a eulogy to Topsy, a venerable and much-loved driving mare who had been scared to death by Charles Humeston's automobile.
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Topsy, a 16-year-old family driving mare owned by E. S. Evans, dropped dead in the shafts from fright Thursday evening. Miss Hattie Evans was driving home from her school Thursday when she met Charles Humeston in his car. The horse became frightened. The animal fell to the ground and died almost instantly.
Topsy was kept tied in the school yard, and Wednesday she became badly scared at a passing auto and broke loose. The second shock was too much for her.
Mr. Evans had owned Topsy 13 years. She started to school at an early age. She had never been tardy or missed a day because of bad weather. During the past six years, Miss Hattie had driven her to school. Topsy was a good, kind, gentle animal and will be sadly missed by Mr. Evans and his family.
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Topsy's owner was Evan S. Evans, an honored Civil War veteran, school teacher and farmer who had just recently retired due to failing health and moved his family into Humeston from a farm in the Green Bay neighborhood.
A year and a half after Topsy's death, Evan died, too --- while sitting on a bench in the yard after enjoying a hearty lunch on April 15, 1915. And thus were man and faithful horse reunited.
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