Fitz-James O’Brien’s short story “The Child Who Loved a Grave” tells the story of a young girl named Mary who has a strange fascination with death and the graveyard. She visits the graveyard every day, and soon develops a relationship with a particular grave, which she visits more often than the others. One day, Mary meets a mysterious old man who tells her the story of the grave she loves so much. It turns out that the grave belongs to a young girl who died tragically at a young age. Mary is moved by the story and begins to visit the grave even more often. One day, Mary is surprised to find a bouquet of flowers on the grave. She soon discovers that the old man has been leaving them there for her. Mary is touched by the gesture and begins to visit the grave even more often. The old man eventually reveals to Mary that he is the father of the girl whose grave she loves so much. He tells her that he visits the grave every day to remember his daughter and to thank Mary for her kindness. The story ends with Mary and the old man visiting the grave together, and Mary understanding the importance of death and the power of remembrance.
By Fitz-James O'Brien · First published 1859 · Genre: Gothic Fiction, Horror, Romanticism