Ellen Porter Champion, born in Newmarket, November 7, 1826, died at her home on Shackford's Hill in that town, May 24, 1909.
She was a daughter of Seth R., and Martha (Boardman) Shackford and was
Mrs. Champion was endowed with rare intellectual powers and poetic talents of a high order, and contributions from her pen had frequent place in magazines for the young a generation ago. In later years her occasional poems have given pleasure to her friends, at anniversaries and other gatherings.
THE FAIRIES.
I knew when I woke in the morning,
And saw through my frost-garnished pane
The valley,-a broad sea of crystal,-
That the fairies were busy again.
Their magic transformed the wide meadow,
Each grass blade with jewels was strung,
And willow boughs drooped to the water,
All heavy with diamonds hung.
The hemlocks, cone-shaped, in the forest
Sported icicles tier above tier.
And each maple that swayed on the mountain
Was ablaze like a huge chandelier.
The stray weeds were rich as queen's garlands,
The pebbles were Koh-i-noors grand;
Tray's kennel, a Chinese pagoda,-
Just touched by a mystical wand.
Little Fanny stood watching beside me,-
Such light in her great, wondering eyes
When she said, "Ah, I know 't is good fairies
That gave us this splendid surprise.
"When Santa Claus came down our chimney
He brought no such presents as these;
O' the fairies are better than Santa,
For their trees are all Christmas-trees."
Blest childhood's sweet follies and fancies!
Who would its dear fables unlearn?
Dispel not such dreams and delusions;
Once vanished, they never return.
Ellen Porter Champion
REFERENCES:
The Granite Monthly, A New Hampshire Magazine Devoted to Literature, History, and State Progress (Volume 53) (Dover, N. H.: H. H. Metcalf, Publisher, n.d.), page 240, New Hampshire Necrology; digital images, Google Books (http://books.google.com : accessed 16 February 2014
Our Young Folks An Illustrated Magazine for Boys and Girls Vol. VII February 1871 No II (n.d.), page 96; digital images, Google Books (http://www.books.google.com : accessed 16 February 2014