Three years. That’s all Anna Degenová lived. Yet her story echoes through time. We stand before her grave a poignant testament to a life both short and extraordinary. This is the resting place of Anna Degenová the little girl known as the Holy Maiden.
Anna was the daughter of a court locksmith Augustin Degen and his wife Anna a laundress. They lived near the old Gate of the Jeweled Crown in Lesser Town. Her life was brief a tragic tale spun into legend.
The legend speaks of a celestial error. An angel’s soul mistakenly entered the newborn Anna. Her arrival was marked by strange occurrences. A bright star shone in the heavens. Birds sang joyfully. Trees blossomed miraculously.
Anna was exceptionally kind. She never misbehaved. She shared her toys. She told no lies. Animals adored her. It’s said she understood the language of birds and plants. She helped everyone around her. Even a grumpy count from a palace in Greater Town was charmed by her. He met her at a May festival in Lesser Town. He wanted to adopt her. Anna refused.
She was a giver. She shared her meager possessions with beggars and thieves alike. This worried her parents. They feared people would exploit her goodness. They worried that as she grew older more people would take advantage of her.
Tragedy struck on a windy day. Anna was playing by a window with a rag doll. A gust of wind snatched the doll. As she leaned out to catch it she lost her balance and fell. She died instantly. The angel’s soul returned to heaven.
After Anna’s death the count who had been so touched by her generosity commissioned her tomb. The sculptor Josef Max created a touching statue. It depicts a smiling girl her hands folded on her chest. She is dressed in a long robe. A small pillow adorned with ribbons rests under her head.
Even after death Anna’s story persists. People still leave flowers and prayers at her grave. It stands as a tribute to a child whose short life touched many hearts. The inscription reads Anna Degenová 1848-1851 daughter of a court locksmith and a laundress. Her parents are buried nearby in grave number 231. Anna’s legacy lives on a reminder of kindness even in the face of loss.