THE DOLPHIN’S BRIDE
by Abbie Phillips Walker · from Sandman's rainy day stories
Adapted Version
Nitta was a small girl. She was very sad. She had no home. Her aunt sent her away. Nitta walked to the big ocean. She cried there. She was hungry. She felt alone.
A big Dolphin came from the water. He saw Nitta. "Why do you cry?" he asked. Nitta was surprised. The Dolphin could talk! "I have no home," she said. "Come with me," the Dolphin said. "I will give you a home."
Nitta had no other place. She said, "Yes." She jumped on his back. She closed her eyes. They went into the big ocean. It was a magic ride.
The Dolphin stopped. Nitta opened her eyes. She was not in the water. She was in a beautiful garden. A big house stood there. It was very pretty. Nitta felt happy.
The Dolphin showed her inside. Many rooms were there. They were very beautiful. "Choose a room," he said. "It is for you. You are not a servant." Nitta smiled.
Nitta chose a blue room. It was so pretty. She saw a piano. The Dolphin jumped on it. He played music with his fins. Nitta was very amazed. The music was lovely.
Nitta felt sad for the Dolphin. "You are so kind," she said. "I wish you were a man. I wish you were a prince." She wanted to help.
"I am under a spell," the Dolphin said. "A witch made me a Dolphin. I was a prince before. Only a brave girl can help. She must use a magic sword. It is behind the door. It will break the spell."
Nitta found the magic sword. It was shiny and pretty. But Nitta felt scared. She did not want to hurt her friend. She loved the Dolphin. She felt very afraid.
The Dolphin made a soft sound. Nitta wanted to help him. She was very brave. She held the magic sword. She closed her eyes tight. She touched the Dolphin with the sword. A bright light shone. The spell broke.
Nitta felt strange. She felt like she was floating. Then she opened her eyes. A handsome man stood near her. He smiled a kind smile. Nitta was very surprised.
"I was the Dolphin," the man said. "A bad witch cast a spell. I was a prince before. I did not marry her daughter. So she made me a Dolphin. You broke the spell for me. You are very brave. Thank you, kind Nitta."
The Prince looked at Nitta. "I waited for you," he said. "I love you very much. Will you be my princess?" Nitta felt happy. She loved the kind Prince.
Nitta said, "Yes!" They married that day. They lived in the beautiful castle. Nitta was kind and brave. So, she found a happy home. Nitta and the Prince lived happily. They were always kind and happy.
Original Story
THE DOLPHIN’S BRIDE
One day there came through the woods that bordered on a big ocean a poor little beggar girl named Nitta.
Nitta was crying; she was hungry and she did not know where to go, for her aunt, who had a daughter of her own, did not want to support Nitta and had turned her out-of-doors that very day.
“I am too poor to support you,” said the hard-hearted aunt. “You must take care of yourself.”
Nitta’s father and mother were dead and there seemed to be no place for her but the woods, so she wandered along until she came to the ocean, and there she sat down to cry out her grief.
While she was crying a big dolphin poked his head out of the water. “What are you crying for, little girl?” he asked.
Nitta was so surprised to hear the dolphin speak that she stopped crying at once. “I am crying because I have no home,” she replied.
“I will give you a home if you will come with me,” said the dolphin. “I need some one to take care of my house.”
“But I cannot live in the water; I should drown,” said Nitta.
“I would not ask you to come if you would drown,” answered the dolphin. “But you must decide for yourself whether you could keep house for a fish. There are no children to play with at the bottom of the ocean.”
“I shall starve if I stay on land, and I may find a good home,” thought Nitta as the dolphin waited for his answer.
“I’ll go with you,” she said.
“Then jump on my back,” said the dolphin, “and close your eyes; there is nothing to fear. I promise you that.”
Nitta jumped on his back and closed her eyes. Over the waves they went, and then suddenly Nitta felt the dolphin plunge under the water, and down, down they went, and then next thing she knew the dolphin stopped and said, “Here we are.”
Nitta opened her eyes, and instead of being in the water, as she thought, she was in a beautiful garden in front of a beautiful house. Up the steps the dolphin flopped, for, of course, he could not walk, having no feet, and Nitta followed him.
He led her into a big hall hung with beautiful pictures and soft carpets upon the floor upon which Nitta was almost afraid to step.
Nitta almost forgot her queer companion, she was so overcome with all the grandeur she beheld.
On both sides of the long hall were many rooms, one of gold, one of silver, one of marble, and the dolphin told Nitta she was to choose which room she would care to have for her own.
“But you said I was to keep your house,” said Nitta; “a servant cannot live in one of these beautiful rooms.”
“I did not say I wanted you to be a servant,” said the dolphin. “I want some one to live here and care for the house, but not to do the work.”
Nitta chose a beautiful room hung in blue silk, with chairs of blue damask and beautiful rosewood frames.
The ceiling was a darker blue, and all over it were dotted diamonds that twinkled like stars.
The floor was covered with a blue velvet carpet, soft and thick, and over it were scattered big pink roses which looked as if they would crush when stepped upon, they seemed so natural.
There was a piano of rosewood at one end of the room, and upon this Nitta was surprised to see the dolphin jump and with its fins begin to play. Music such as Nitta never heard came from the keys, and so enchanted was she that when the dolphin stopped playing Nitta ran to him and put her hand upon his head.
“You poor fish,” she said, “it is too bad you are not a man. I wish I were a fairy and could change you into a prince. This place is far too beautiful for a fish to live in, and besides, you play such wonderful music. How is it possible?”
“There is only one way you can help me, and since you wished to be a fairy and change me into a prince,” said the dolphin, “I will see if you will keep your word.
“Look behind the door and bring the sword you will find there, and I will tell you the only way I can be freed from the spell of a witch who hates me.”
From behind the door Nitta brought the sword. She found it had a beautiful handle of gold and set with diamonds and pearls, but the blade looked sharp and pointed and Nitta trembled as she held it.
“Now if you really are sorry for me,” said the dolphin, “and wish to make me a prince, strike off my head.”
Nitta dropped the sword at the very thought of anything so terrible. “I cannot do that,” she said. “You have been too kind to me.”
“That is the only way you can repay me,” said the dolphin, with a sigh. “I see you did not mean what you said about wishing to be a fairy.”
“Oh yes, I do, indeed I do!” said Nitta. “I do not want to kill you, but I will put you out of misery if that is what you want.”
She picked up the sword and swung it over her head; then she looked at the dolphin, closed her eyes, and brought down the sword.
As it fell Nitta felt herself slipping away, it seemed to her into the bottom of the ocean.
When she opened her eyes she saw a very handsome man bending over her. “You are a brave girl,” he said. “You have saved me from a terrible fate.”
“Where is the good dolphin?” asked Nitta. “Oh, I will never forgive myself for killing him!”
“He is gone forever. I was the poor dolphin,” said the handsome man at her side. “You broke the spell that held me, for the old witch who changed me into the dolphin said I must remain one until a pretty woman should strike off my head.”
“But why should a witch change you into a fish?” asked Nitta.
“Because I would not marry her daughter and make her a princess,” replied the handsome man. “You see, I am a prince and I was waiting for the girl I could love to appear before I would take my princess.
“And now I have found her. Will you become my princess?”
Nitta was already in love with the handsome man who had fallen in love with her, and so they were married that very day in the wonderful castle of beautiful rooms and lived happily ever after.
Story DNA
Moral
True kindness and courage can break even the most powerful spells and lead to unexpected rewards.
Plot Summary
A poor orphan girl, Nitta, is cast out by her aunt and finds herself by the ocean, where a talking dolphin offers her a home in his magnificent underwater castle. Nitta accepts and discovers the dolphin is a cursed prince, trapped by a witch until a pretty woman strikes off his head with a magical sword. Overcoming her fear and compassion, Nitta performs the act, breaking the spell and transforming the dolphin into a handsome prince. The prince, having found his true love, asks Nitta to marry him, and they live happily ever after.
Themes
Emotional Arc
suffering to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story, published in 1917, reflects common early 20th-century fairy tale motifs and narrative styles, often emphasizing virtue and reward.
Plot Beats (14)
- Nitta, a poor orphan, is turned out by her aunt and wanders to the ocean, crying from hunger and despair.
- A talking dolphin emerges from the water and offers Nitta a home if she will care for his house.
- Nitta, seeing no other option, agrees and rides on the dolphin's back into the ocean, closing her eyes.
- She opens her eyes to find herself in a beautiful garden in front of a magnificent house, not underwater.
- The dolphin leads her inside, showing her opulent rooms, and tells her to choose one for herself, explaining she is not a servant.
- Nitta chooses a beautiful blue room and is amazed when the dolphin plays the piano with his fins.
- Nitta expresses sorrow for the dolphin's form and wishes she could turn him into a prince.
- The dolphin reveals he is under a witch's spell and can only be freed if a pretty woman strikes off his head with a sword found behind the door.
- Nitta retrieves the jeweled sword but is terrified at the thought of harming the kind dolphin.
- After the dolphin sighs, Nitta, reaffirming her wish to help, gathers her courage, closes her eyes, and strikes off his head.
- Nitta feels herself slipping away, then opens her eyes to see a handsome man bending over her.
- The man reveals he was the dolphin, transformed by a witch for refusing to marry her daughter, and Nitta's act broke the spell.
- The prince, having found the girl he could love, asks Nitta to be his princess.
- Nitta, already in love, accepts, and they are married that day, living happily ever after in the castle.
Characters
Nitta ★ protagonist
Small and slender, indicative of her poor upbringing and lack of proper nourishment. Her exact height and build are not specified but implied to be delicate.
Attire: Simple, worn, and likely patched peasant clothing, probably made of coarse linen or wool in muted, practical colors like grey, brown, or faded blue. She would not have any adornments.
Wants: To find a safe home and escape her poverty and loneliness. Later, to help the dolphin out of compassion.
Flaw: Her initial fear and hesitation, particularly when faced with the difficult task of striking the dolphin.
Transforms from a poor, homeless, and despairing beggar girl into a brave princess who saves her beloved from a curse and finds a loving home.
Kind-hearted, compassionate, brave (eventually), initially timid, resourceful, loyal.
Image Prompt & Upload
A small, slender young girl, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has a round, gentle face with wide, expressive eyes and a soft mouth. Her hair is a simple, natural brown, worn loose and slightly disheveled, reaching her shoulders. She wears a faded, patched grey linen dress that is slightly too big for her, with a simple rope belt. Her hands are clasped nervously in front of her. She has a sorrowful, worried expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Dolphin ◆ supporting
A large, powerful dolphin with smooth, grey skin. Its size is notable enough to carry Nitta on its back. It has no feet, so it flops when on land.
Attire: None, as it is an animal.
Wants: To find someone brave and compassionate enough to break the witch's spell and restore him to his true form.
Flaw: Bound by the witch's curse, unable to break it himself.
Remains a dolphin until Nitta breaks the spell, transforming into the Prince.
Kind, wise, patient, mysterious, musical, generous.
Image Prompt & Upload
A large, grey dolphin, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. Its skin is smooth and sleek, reflecting light. It has intelligent, dark eyes and a gentle curve to its mouth, suggesting a friendly expression. Its dorsal fin is prominent, and its tail flukes are broad. It is positioned as if gracefully swimming, but with a slight upward tilt, as if surfacing. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Prince ◆ supporting
Very handsome, with a strong, noble build. His exact height and features are not specified but are implied to be ideal and princely.
Attire: Rich, regal attire, likely made of fine silks and velvets in deep, jewel tones, possibly embroidered with gold or silver thread. A tunic, breeches, and a flowing cloak would be appropriate.
Wants: To find the one who would break his curse and to find true love.
Flaw: Vulnerable to the witch's curse, unable to free himself.
Transforms from a cursed dolphin back into his princely form, finding his true love and marrying Nitta.
Noble, grateful, loving, patient, discerning (waiting for true love).
Image Prompt & Upload
A very handsome young adult man, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a strong, noble jawline, kind, dark eyes, and a warm smile. His hair is dark brown, neatly styled and medium length, swept back from his forehead. He wears a rich, deep blue velvet tunic with gold embroidery along the collar and cuffs, a white linen shirt underneath, and tailored dark breeches. A flowing crimson cloak is draped over his shoulders. He stands with a confident and regal posture. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Hard-hearted Aunt ○ minor
Likely gaunt or stern-looking, reflecting her unkind nature and poverty. Her build would be practical, perhaps sturdy from hard work.
Attire: Plain, functional peasant clothing, likely drab and worn, made of coarse fabrics like homespun wool or linen in browns or greys. No adornments.
Wants: To avoid the burden of caring for Nitta, prioritizing her own daughter and resources.
Flaw: Lack of empathy and compassion.
Does not change; serves as the catalyst for Nitta's journey.
Cruel, selfish, unfeeling, practical to a fault.
Image Prompt & Upload
A middle-aged woman, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has a thin, sharp face with narrow, disapproving eyes and thin lips. Her grey-streaked brown hair is pulled back severely into a tight bun. She wears a plain, dark grey wool dress with a simple white apron over it, and sturdy, worn leather shoes. Her posture is rigid and unwelcoming, with her arms crossed. She has a stern, unyielding expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Witch ⚔ antagonist
Implied to be old and powerful, though no specific physical description is given. She would likely embody classic witch archetypes.
Attire: Dark, flowing robes, perhaps made of rough, dark fabric or shimmering, ominous silk. Adorned with strange amulets or symbols.
Wants: To punish the Prince for rejecting her daughter and to force him into a marriage with her daughter.
Flaw: Her curse has a specific condition for breaking, which ultimately leads to her defeat.
Her curse is broken, leading to her defeat, though she does not appear directly in the story.
Vengeful, cruel, manipulative, powerful.
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly woman, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has a long, hooked nose, a sharp chin, and piercing, dark eyes under heavy brows. Her skin is wrinkled and sallow. Her long, wild grey hair is streaked with black and flies around her head. She wears a voluminous, dark purple velvet robe with wide sleeves and a high collar, adorned with strange, silver brooches shaped like twisted branches. Her posture is slightly hunched, and she holds a gnarled wooden staff in one hand. She has a malevolent, sneering expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Ocean Bordering Woods
Dense woods bordering a vast ocean, where Nitta wanders, crying from hunger and despair.
Mood: desolate, sorrowful, lonely
Nitta, a poor beggar girl, is turned out by her aunt and wanders to the ocean, where she meets the talking dolphin.
Image Prompt & Upload
A desolate, windswept coastline where a dense, dark forest meets a vast, grey ocean under a muted sky. The ground is a mix of coarse sand and exposed tree roots, with sparse, hardy vegetation clinging to the edges. Waves crash gently on the shore, and the air feels heavy with a sense of loneliness. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
The Dolphin's Underwater Palace
A magnificent, opulent palace located at the bottom of the ocean, yet dry and filled with air. It features a grand hall with beautiful pictures and soft carpets, leading to many themed rooms (gold, silver, marble). Nitta's chosen room is hung in blue silk, with blue damask chairs, rosewood frames, a dark blue ceiling dotted with twinkling diamonds, and a soft blue velvet carpet scattered with realistic pink roses. A rosewood piano stands at one end.
Mood: magical, opulent, enchanting, mysterious
Nitta is brought here by the dolphin and chooses her room. She discovers the dolphin's musical talent and learns of his curse, eventually breaking it by striking off his head with a magical sword, transforming him into a prince.
Image Prompt & Upload
An opulent, dry palace interior at the bottom of the ocean, with architectural elements reminiscent of a grand European castle but with a fantastical, luminous quality. A vast hall with high, vaulted ceilings, adorned with intricate carvings and shimmering, iridescent murals depicting marine life. The floor is covered in thick, plush blue velvet carpet, and the walls are draped with rich blue silk. Soft, ethereal light filters in from unseen sources, illuminating a rosewood grand piano and sparkling diamonds embedded in the ceiling like distant stars. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
