The story is told of a mermaid who made her home on a rock just off the coast of the scenic town of St. Ives in Cornwall, England. One fine day, she was basking in the sun, listening to the choir from the local parish church. She was so enchanted by the beautiful sound that she couldn’t resist following it. She swam up to the harbour and poked her head above water, capivated by the music. As she listened, a local man named Tristram Bird saw her beauty and was entranced. Against the advice of his friends, he courted the mermaid and won her heart. They had an intense love affair, which inevitably led to the birth of a child. The mermaid, knowing she couldn’t raise a child on land, pleaded with Tristram to come with her beneath the waves. She tried to tempt him with descriptions of unimaginable wealth and the beauty of her undersea kingdom. But Tristram would not be swayed, despite his love for her. Heartbroken, the mermaid returned to the sea alone, bearing his child with her. To this day, they say that the love-lorn cries of the mermaid can sometimes be heard over the crashing waves of St. Ives, and on some nights, a young man can be seen standing on the beach, gazing out to sea as if watching for someone.