The Coral Palace
by David Cory · from The Iceberg Express
Adapted Version
Mary Louise was a girl. One day, she became a mermaid! She was in the big, blue ocean. She swam up. Princess Coral swam too. Big ice was on the water. It made a loud noise. Mary Louise saw the ice. It looked like many small pieces.
Princess Coral smiled. 'Let's go to the King's home,' she said. 'It is a palace.' Mary Louise liked this idea. 'Oh, yes!' she said. 'I want to go.' She felt very happy. It was a new adventure.
Princess Coral went down. Mary Louise followed her. It was fun to swim fast. They saw pretty plants. The plants had many colors. There were shiny shells. Mary Louise liked the ocean. It was a beautiful place.
They came to a big palace. It was pink and white. A merman opened the door. His name was Page Fin. He bowed low to Princess Coral. 'Hello, Princess,' he said. Mary Louise was surprised. Her friend was a princess!
Princess Coral led Mary Louise in. King Ocean sat on a chair. He wore a big crown. He looked at Mary Louise. 'Hello, new mermaid,' he said. He was very kind. 'Welcome to our home.' Mary Louise felt happy.
Mary Louise bowed low. It was easy to bow. Her new tail helped her. She felt like a real mermaid. She smiled at King Ocean. She felt very good.
Princess Coral took her hand. They swam to a pretty room. Mary Louise was tired now. She saw a soft bed. It was made of sea moss. Mary Louise lay down. She fell asleep fast.
Princess Coral sang a song. It was a soft, sweet song. She got ready for dinner. She combed her long hair. She looked in a mirror. She was very pretty.
Mary Louise woke up. Princess Coral came to her. She held a gift. It was a pink scarf. The scarf was very shiny. 'Is this for me?' Mary Louise asked. She was very, very happy. She smiled a big smile.
Mary Louise put on the scarf. It felt soft and warm. Princess Coral put a comb in her hair. The comb was shiny. 'You look so nice!' Princess Coral said. Mary Louise felt pretty.
They went to the dinner room. It was a very big room. Mary Louise held her friend's hand. They would eat yummy food. Mary Louise smiled. She was happy in her new home. The dinner was fun!
Original Story
The Coral Palace
"Why, the ocean is full of cracked ice!" exclaimed Mary Louise, as she and the mermaid rose to the surface and looked about them. "I wonder what it was that caused such a tremendous crash?"
"Perhaps the Whale Ice Trust is after a big ice supply," replied the mermaid with a laugh. "The ocean depths are no longer a quiet place since this dreadful hot weather set in. Just the other day I heard the King of the Mermen say that they were about to send a note of protest to Neptune for violating the laws of Merland!"
"I don't know much about it," said Mary Louise, "except that it's very inconvenient to have one's voyage disturbed in such a way. What are we going to do now?"
"How would you like to visit the Court of the Mer King?" asked the mermaid.
"Oh, lovely!" cried Mary Louise. "I've never met any kinds, although I've read about them in fairy stories."
"Come along then," said the mermaid. "Follow me straight down, for I think we are not very far from the Coral Palace, where King Seaphus holds court."
Placing the palms of her hands together diving fashion, she gave her pretty tail a kick-off, and away she went, head downward, through the water.
Mary Louise followed her example, somewhat surprised at the ease with which she executed this difficult maneuver.
In a short time they found themselves on the bottom of the ocean. In the distance could be seen the dim outline of a magnificent castle of pink and white coral. Leading up to it was a wide highway, flanked on either side with beautiful sea-grass, and dotted here and there, like milestones, stood columns of beautiful coral. Banks of exquisite mother-of-pearl rose at intervals along the way; water plants of various hues grew in wild profusion.
"Why, it's very much like the earth," exclaimed Mary Louise, "only one doesn't walk, and its not dusty, and—and it's not hot and sunny!"
"No, indeed!" said the mermaid. "But sometimes we have a pest of water gnats that are worse than mosquitoes, and we have to put up netting on our bedroom windows to keep them out."
As she finished speaking they approached the door of the castle, on which she knocked with a flap of her finny tail. It was immediately opened by a merman dressed in the uniform of a court page. "What can I do for you, Your Highness?" he asked, bowing low.
"Why, are you a princess?" asked Mary Louise in surprise, turning quickly to the mermaid and forgetting for the moment that they were on the steps of a real merman's castle.
The little mermaid only laughed in reply, and taking Mary Louise by the hand led her through the coral doors to King Seaphus.
His Majesty was seated on a throne of pearl, studded with many precious stones. A long emerald robe fell from his shoulders and on his head rested a magnificent crown set with glittering jewels, which gleamed and sparkled in the dim light of the royal chamber.
"Ah, my daughter, whom have you here?" he asked, leaning from the throne and gazing intently at little Mary Louise. "Methinks she is a mermaidized mortal!" At which the King laughed loudly, for he was very fond of coining words and was busily engaged, when his state duties did not interfere, in compiling a new dictionary.
"You are right, Father Seaphus," replied his beautiful daughter. "Let me introduce little Mary Louise."
The King rose graciously and extended his royal right hand. Mary Louise made a low curtsey, finding it much easier now that she was a mermaid to perform this little act of graciousness on account of the flexibility of her tail.
Legs, of course, are indispensable for walking; but, then, in these days of new inventions, when the air is invaded by wing, and the earth traversed by wheels, and the depths of the waters by mechanical fins, walking may soon become a lost art! Something like this may have flitted through her mind, but she only answered in a trembling voice, "How do you do, Your Majesty!"
"You are welcome, 'Mermaid Mary,' to our Kingdom of the Sea," he replied. "I hope you will enjoy your stay with us." So saying, he gallantly lifted his gold crown as little Mary Louise made another curtsey.
"Let us dress for dinner," said the mermaid.
They swam quickly upstairs between two balustrades of lovely coral to her bedroom.
It was just like fairy-land; at least, it seemed so to little Mary Louise, as she looked about the pretty room. In one corner stood a beautiful bed of mother-of-pearl, hung with varied colored sea grass for curtains. Sea moss made it as soft as down. In fact, it seemed almost softer to Mary Louise, who by this time was very sleepy. She rested her tired little body upon the cushions and in a few short seconds was sound asleep. The princess mermaid looked at her with loving eyes, while she sang very low and sweetly:
"Sleep, little sister, for when you awake,
We'll have a fine dinner of fishes and cake!"
I think the mermaid took somewhat after her royal father for she often spoke in rhyme, which she composed as she talked, while his great delight, as has been mentioned before, was to coin a new word for his dictionary.
Leaving Mary Louise to her slumbers, the princess mermaid sat herself down before her mirror and combed her hair. Presently, she went over to her wardrobe and took out a beautiful shimmery pink shawl. What it was made of I cannot tell, except that it shivered and quivered with little colors like a rainbow. Perhaps it was made of changeable sea-silk.
At any rate, Mary Louise, who at that moment opened her eyes, thought it was the most exquisite thing she had ever seen.
"Is it really for me? Is it really?" she asked with a cry of delight, as the mermaid came toward her.
"Of course it is, my dear," replied the mermaid princess, "and as soon as you have put it on, and combed your hair—you needn't wash your hands and face, you know—the banquet will be ready."
Mary Louise clapped her hands and hopped, or, rather, flopped about, so happy was she to receive such a gift in the depths of the sea.
When she was dressed in the lovely shawl, and a beautiful mother-of-pearl comb fastened in her hair, the princess mermaid declared she looked "too sweet for anything!" Then they floated down, arm in arm, to the great dining hall.
Story DNA
Plot Summary
Mary Louise, a human girl, finds herself transformed into a mermaid and, after an ocean disturbance, is invited by a mermaid princess to visit the Mer King's Coral Palace. She marvels at the underwater world and is graciously welcomed by King Seaphus, who playfully acknowledges her 'mermaidized' state. After resting in the princess's beautiful room, Mary Louise receives a shimmering pink shawl as a gift, symbolizing her acceptance into the mer-kingdom. The story concludes with Mary Louise, now fully adorned, joining the princess for a grand banquet in the dining hall.
Themes
Emotional Arc
curiosity to delight
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
David Cory was a prolific children's author in the early 20th century, known for whimsical tales often featuring animal characters or fantastical settings, reflecting a period of imaginative escapism in children's literature.
Plot Beats (11)
- Mary Louise and a mermaid surface to find the ocean full of cracked ice, caused by an unknown crash.
- The mermaid suggests they visit the Court of the Mer King, and Mary Louise eagerly agrees.
- They dive to the ocean bottom, where Mary Louise marvels at the underwater landscape, comparing it to earth.
- They arrive at the Coral Palace, where a merman page greets the mermaid as a princess, surprising Mary Louise.
- Mary Louise is introduced to King Seaphus, who playfully calls her a 'mermaidized mortal' and welcomes her.
- Mary Louise curtsies gracefully, noting the ease with her new mermaid tail.
- The princess takes Mary Louise to her bedroom, where Mary Louise, tired, falls asleep on a soft sea moss bed.
- The princess sings a lullaby and then prepares for dinner, combing her hair and selecting a shawl.
- Mary Louise awakens and is delighted to receive the shimmering pink shawl as a gift from the princess.
- Dressed in the shawl and with a mother-of-pearl comb in her hair, Mary Louise is deemed 'too sweet for anything!'
- Mary Louise and the princess float down, arm in arm, to the great dining hall for the banquet.
Characters
Mary Louise
A small, presumably slender human child, who is 'mermaidized' upon entering the ocean, gaining the flexibility and tail of a mermaid. Her body is described as 'tired little body' after her journey.
Attire: Initially wears unspecified human clothes, but upon becoming 'mermaidized' she is without them. Later, she is gifted and wears a 'beautiful shimmery pink shawl' made of a changeable sea-silk, and has a 'beautiful mother-of-pearl comb' fastened in her hair.
Wants: To experience new adventures and enjoy her unexpected journey in the ocean.
Flaw: Her initial unfamiliarity with the underwater world and its customs, and her human limitations before being 'mermaidized'.
Transforms from a human child into a 'mermaidized' mortal, adapting to the underwater world and gaining new experiences and a sense of wonder.
Curious, easily delighted, polite (curtseys to the King), somewhat naive, and adaptable.
The Mermaid Princess
A beautiful mermaid with a 'pretty tail'. Her overall appearance is graceful and elegant, befitting a princess.
Attire: Her natural mermaid form. She has a wardrobe from which she takes a 'beautiful shimmery pink shawl' for Mary Louise, suggesting her own attire is similarly exquisite.
Wants: To entertain and care for her new human friend, Mary Louise, and introduce her to the wonders of the Mer Kingdom.
Flaw: Not explicitly stated, but perhaps a slight naivety or over-eagerness to please.
Remains consistent as a kind and welcoming figure, acting as Mary Louise's guide and friend.
Friendly, hospitable, playful (laughs often), caring (sings to Mary Louise), and somewhat poetic (speaks in rhyme).
King Seaphus
A regal merman, likely with a powerful build befitting a king. He is seated on a throne, suggesting a stately presence.
Attire: A long emerald robe that falls from his shoulders. He wears a magnificent crown set with glittering jewels.
Wants: To rule his kingdom, compile his dictionary, and extend hospitality to guests.
Flaw: His passion for coining words might sometimes distract him from his state duties.
Remains consistent as a benevolent and welcoming king.
Gracious, hospitable, fond of coining new words, and possesses a loud laugh. He is a benevolent ruler.
Court Page
A merman, likely of a slender build suitable for a page. His tail is not explicitly described but is implied by his species.
Attire: A uniform of a court page, implying a specific, formal attire for his role in the Coral Palace.
Wants: To serve the royal court and its visitors.
Flaw: Not applicable; a minor character.
Remains consistent as a minor character.
Polite, deferential, and efficient in his duties.
Locations
Ocean Surface (Cracked Ice)
The surface of the ocean, filled with large, fractured pieces of ice, creating a scene of recent disruption.
Mood: Disrupted, surprising, slightly chaotic due to the recent crash.
Mary Louise and the mermaid rise to the surface to find the ocean covered in cracked ice, prompting their decision to visit the Mer King.
Ocean Floor Highway to Coral Palace
A wide, clear highway leading across the ocean floor, flanked by beautiful sea-grass and marked by columns of pink and white coral. Banks of exquisite mother-of-pearl rise at intervals, and water plants of various hues grow in wild profusion.
Mood: Magical, serene, otherworldly, yet structured like an earthly road.
Mary Louise and the mermaid travel along this path to reach the Coral Palace, observing the unique underwater landscape.
Coral Palace Throne Room
A royal chamber within the magnificent castle of pink and white coral. King Seaphus is seated on a throne of pearl, studded with many precious stones, gleaming and sparkling in the dim light.
Mood: Regal, formal, majestic, with a sense of ancient power.
Mary Louise is introduced to King Seaphus, who welcomes her to his underwater kingdom.
Princess Mermaid's Bedroom
A pretty room within the Coral Palace, featuring a beautiful bed of mother-of-pearl with curtains of varied colored sea grass and sea moss for softness. Balustrades of lovely coral lead upstairs to this room.
Mood: Cozy, magical, comforting, like a fairy-tale setting.
Mary Louise rests and sleeps in the princess's bed, then receives a shimmering pink shawl before dinner.