Reading this, I found it hard to believe that this came from the same mind that had created 'Frankenstein'. This was a story written to amuse a child and the introduction, taking up a great deal more space between the covers than the story itself, goes at length to provide the context for it, but I couldn't get excited about it.

This is perhaps unfair, but it was dull. So very, very dull.

A man visits a seaside town, sees a funeral procession, and is struck by the image of a beautiful child. A villager is more than happy to provide that child's backstory. Down to his living in a remote cottage by the sea, and how he's all alone. It was a different time.

I was reminded of 'Roverandom', a forgotten story found in family archives, indifferently presented for publication by the author and then forgotten about. This has some academic interest, and its very short, that's all I can say as a recommendation.