蚯蚓救援蜻蜓，助人为什么也是助自己？
蜻蜓受伤，蚯蚓救援，助人为什么也是助自己？请看惠言童话第16集《蚯蚓和蜻蜓》。
编辑寄语
受疫情影响，自3月16日起，大纽约地区学校陆续关闭，孩子们在家，除了上网课外，各种活动受到限制。如何帮助孩子们度过这个非常时期的枯燥生活，让家长们十分操心。惠言先生在征得参与创作者和组织者同意后，主动向我们编辑部提议，把他正在筹划出版的《惠言童话》18篇绘画本稿子赠给我们网站连载，可以让孩子们在网上看到和听到这些故事，有助于提高他们的中文阅读和听力水平。
故事文稿是基于惠言先生前几年在《世界日报》上发表的故事修改的，中美两地34个孩子们参加了插画稿创作，上海五里桥文化中心张炜玮主任组织“音之魅”诵读沙龙的语言艺术家们创作了9个朗诵作品。希望这些生动有趣的故事、童趣洋溢的图画和美妙的朗诵艺术作品，能伴随孩子们度过新冠疫情这个困难时期。对此，我们向惠言先生；英文稿的校阅者Jason Kenny先生和赵蒙皓女士；上海五里桥文化中心及“音之魅”诵读沙龙语言艺术家们；参与画稿创作的孩子们及其家长表示衷心感谢！
本网站将于5月4日（周一）起，每逢周一、三、五连载推出，每次一篇《惠言童话》故事，大约持续六周，欢迎大家下载收看收听。
16.蚯 蚓 和 蜻 蜓
The Earthworm and the Dragonfly
文： 惠言
画： 徐书楷 （10岁，图1-9）；沈樱姿 （9岁，图10-18）
英文校阅： Jason Kenny & 赵蒙皓
中文朗诵： 许道倩
英文朗诵： Chen Yang（杨晨）
16.蚯蚓和蜻蜓中文朗诵
16.蚯蚓和蜻蜓英文朗诵
夏日的黄昏，又闷又热，西边丘陵的山脊线上，乌云被残阳勾勒出靓丽的金边。
One summer evening, it was muggy and hot. An area of dark clouds over the ridge of western hills was outlined beautifully by the golden sun.
一只蓝色蜻蜓紧贴湖面飞翔，薄薄透明的翅膀反射阳光，绚丽多彩。只见她不时弯曲腹部，动作敏捷地用尾巴点击水面产卵。蜻蜓产完卵，感觉饿了，就飞到湖边一块洼地上低空盘旋，用她那又圆又鼓的复眼，四处寻觅空中的飞虫。
A blue dragonfly was flying close to the lake’s surface. Her thin and transparent wings were colorful under the sunlight. She lowered her abdomen from time to time to let her tail touch the water and quickly lay her eggs. The dragonfly deposited all her eggs and was hungry from the effort. Then she hovered over a swampy area near the lake, using her round and drum shaped eyes to search for a fly in the air to eat.
洼地里长满了各种野草，盛开着各色野花。蜻蜓看到有只苍蝇，正向一丛长满锯齿形叶片的植物飞去，就跟踪追捕。没想到，这是一丛捕蝇草（Venus Flytrap）。捕蝇草感受到苍蝇飞落叶中，迅速合拢叶片，夹住了紧随其后的蜻蜓的翅膀。蜻蜓拼命挣脱，伤了翅膀，掉到地上。
There were plentiful weeds and blooming colorful flowers in the low-lying areas. The dragonfly saw a fly approaching a clump of serrated plants and followed. Unexpectedly, these plants turned out to be Venus flytraps. The Venus flytrap’s rapidly closing blades caught the dragonfly’s wings when it happened to land on it. The dragonfly desperately tried to break free, breaking one wing in the process and eventually fell to the ground.
一条蚯蚓从泥土里钻出来排粪，看到地上的蜻蜓，好奇地过来问候：“蜻蜓夫人，真是稀客，难得在地上见到你。”蜻蜓沮丧地回答：“我翅膀受了伤，不能飞了。”蚯蚓见蜻蜓的一个翅膀微微耷拉着，就关心地问：“我能帮你什么忙？”蜻蜓忧伤地说：“我的翅膀只是受了轻伤，本来只要休养一两天就会好的。可是我觉得马上要下雨了，遭雨淋后，如果没有食物，又冷又饿，我会死的，也许挺不过今天晚上。我现在很饿，你能帮我找点吃的东西吗？”
An earthworm came out from the soil at this time and saw the dragonfly. He was curious and went over to greet her, “Madame Dragonfly, you are a rare guest, and not one often seen here on the ground.” The dragonfly gloomily replied, “My wing was injured and I cannot fly”. The earthworm saw that one of the dragonfly’s wings appeared to be slightly drooping and inquired, “What can I help you with?”
The dragonfly sadly replied, “My wing is only slightly injured. I just need to rest for one or two days and should be fully recovered. I think it’s going to rain. If I should get caught in the rain, and have to go without food, I might die this very evening from the cold. I’m very hungry now; can you possibly help me get something to eat?”
蚯蚓听后，安慰蜻蜓说：“别急，我现在就去给你拿些吃的，马上回来。”不一会儿， 蚯蚓尾部卷着一些腐烂的树叶草根回来了。蜻蜓一看，哭笑不得地说：“难得你热心肠，可是我不吃这些东西，我吃新鲜小飞虫。” 蜻蜓觉得蚯蚓心肠虽好，但是抓不了飞虫，帮不了忙，就哭起来。
The earthworm felt for the dragonfly and wanted to comfort her, “Don’t worry, I’ll get you something to eat right now and will return soon.” The earthworm rolled up some decayed leaves of grass and roots and returned. The dragonfly looked at this offering, smiled bitterly and said, “You are very sincere in your attempt, but I don’t eat this type of food. I prefer to eat fresh, small flying insects.” The dragonfly thought the earthworm was nice to help, but would not be able to catch her flies. She felt helpless and began to cry.
这时候风起云涌，天上的乌云越积越厚，接着一道耀眼的闪光，一声动地的惊雷，眼看大雨将至。蚯蚓赶紧找来几片弯曲的大树叶，把树叶两端插进土里，拱起的叶面罩在蜻蜓上方，避免雨水淋湿蜻蜓。
Thick, dark storm clouds appeared in the sky followed by a bright flash and a loud sound from thunder. Heavy rains would soon pour down. The earthworm found several curved leaves and inserted the ends of the leaves into the soil in an arch to create a leaf tent on top of the dragonfly, so that she would not get wet.
蜻蜓看着蚯蚓帮她搭避雨帐篷，心里安稳了许多，停止哭泣。蚯蚓搭完帐篷，开始犯难起来，上哪儿去给蜻蜓找小飞虫呢？他想啊想啊，忽然想起，他打洞时偶尔会遇到蚂蚁洞，见过蚂蚁洞里储备有伤亡的小飞虫。
The dragonfly watched the earthworm make the shelter from the leaves and began to feel safer. She stopped crying. After the leaf tent was completed, the earthworm started to think, “How can I catch small flying insects for the dragonfly to eat?” He thought and thought, and suddenly, he was reminded that he had occasionally encountered an ant house when digging holes. He had seen the ants collecting small flying insects in their house sometimes.
蚯蚓与蚂蚁是近邻。有时候蚂蚁会利用蚯蚓打的洞，加以修整，扩大自己的家，双方一直友好相处。蚯蚓就对蜻蜓说：“我有办法了，我去蚂蚁那里讨要些小飞虫。”
The earthworm and the ants were close neighbors. Sometimes the ants used worm holes to expand their home and had always treated each other in a friendly manner. The earthworm said to the dragonfly, “I’ve got an idea. I will go to the ant’s house to beg for some small flying insects for you.”
蜻蜓知道蚂蚁虽小，但生性凶猛，见过蚂蚁集群攻击受伤昆虫，分而食之，因此对蚂蚁从来是敬而远之。听蚯蚓说去找蚂蚁求助，生怕招来杀身之祸，正想阻止，蚯蚓已经钻进土里。
The dragonfly knew the ants were small, but very aggressive. She had seen the ant clusters attacking injured insects in order to eat them. The dragonfly had always kept a safe distance from the ants after seeing this. After hearing the earthworm’s plan to ask the ants for help, the dragonfly feared that it might be too dangerous. She tried to stop the earthworm from leaving, but he had already dug into the earth and was on his way to the ants.
蚯蚓来到蚂蚁洞，向守卫洞库的兵蚁说明来意，兵蚁带他去见蚁后。肥胖的蚁后见蚯蚓来求助，问清情况，二话没说便一口答应：“你是我的好朋友，又那么有爱心，这个忙我一定要帮。”说完，就安排了十几个工蚁，去库里找出一些今天刚入库、尚未死亡的小飞虫，跟随蚯蚓送去。
The earthworm arrived at the ant home and proceeded to explain the reason for his visit to the soldiers who were guarding the ant home. The ant soldiers took him to their Queen. The Queen listened to what the earthworm came to ask for and responded without any hesitation, “You are my good friend, and so caring that I will do this favor for you.” The Queen arranged for more than ten ant workers to collect some fresh small flies and sent them off with the earthworm.
蜻蜓心里正忐忑不安，看到蚯蚓回来，身后跟着一群蚂蚁，害怕蚂蚁趁自己不能飞，围攻自己，就挣扎着要爬起来。蚯蚓赶紧上前，让蜻蜓别动，告诉她：“蚂蚁是我的好朋友，帮忙送小飞虫来。”蜻蜓听说，这才喜出望外，饱餐了一顿蚂蚁送来的美味。
The dragonfly was uneasy when she saw the earthworm return, followed by a long line of ants. The dragonfly feared an ant attack since she couldn’t fly to safety. She struggled to get up. The earthworm quickly stepped forward to stop the dragonfly from moving and told her, “The ants are my good friends and have helped to bring you some small flying insects.” The dragonfly heard this and became very happy. Then she enjoyed the delicious meal brought by the ants.
雷阵雨很快过去了，蜻蜓在树叶搭成的帐蓬里安稳地睡了一觉。第二天醒来，发现蚯蚓仍守候在身旁，心里非常感动。蜻蜓看到下垂的翅膀恢复了平直，于是振振翅膀，居然又飞上天空。
The thunderstorm passed quickly and the dragonfly slept comfortably in the tent made of leaves. She woke up the next morning and found that the earthworm was still waiting on the side, which was very touching. The injured wing of the dragonfly was now straight so she vibrated her wings and flew up into the sky.
蜻蜓返回地面，十分感激地对蚯蚓说：“谢谢你，你真是一个大好人，尽心竭力救援毫不相干的他人。也要请你代我感谢蚂蚁慷慨解囊，出手相助。”蚯蚓笑笑回答说:“不用谢，能帮到你，我也很开心。世间万物，同住地球村，各有各的用处，我哪能见死不救啊！”
The dragonfly flew back to the ground and was very grateful to the earthworm, “Thank you very much for your selfless act of helping me when I was most in need. Please give my thanks to the ants that also came to my aid so generously. The earthworm smiled and replied, “Not at all. I’m also very happy to help you. Every creature has its use in the world. We live in the same global village. How could I not try to save one in need! ”
分手时，蜻蜓谨慎地建议蚯蚓说：“我对天气很敏感，我预感到这两天会有暴风雨，你们居住的湖边洼地，可能会被大水淹没，你和蚂蚁要尽早搬家，以免受灾。”蚯蚓见证过蜻蜓的预感，赶紧转告蚁后，蚁后表示自己也有预感，正有搬家之意，于是他们两家立即搬到高地上。
It was time to leave. The dragonfly recommended to the earthworm, “I’m very sensitive to the weather. I have a hunch that there will be storms in the coming days. You inhabit the depressions which may be submerged by flooding. You and the ants should move as soon as possible to higher ground, so as to avoid disaster.” The earthworm agreed with the dragonfly’s premonition. He quickly told the Queen. The Queen said she had the same hunch and prepared to move. Thus they both moved to higher ground immediately.
蜻蜓飞走后，一连下了几天雨，湖水泛滥，洼地成了泽国，一片汪洋。蚯蚓心想：“多亏听从蜻蜓的劝告，避免了葬身鱼腹，看来帮助他人就是帮助自己。”
After the dragonfly went away, a few days of rain followed, and caused the lake to overflow and the low-lying areas became a small pond. The earthworm thought, ‘Because we followed the advice of the dragonfly, we avoided becoming fish food. It seems that helping others is also helping yourself.’
蚯蚓和蜻蜓 徐书楷 （10岁）
作者简介
惠言（实名：诸惠昌）
退休水处理专业工程师，退休后撰写《惠言童话故事》和生活杂记。1946年生于中国浙江省慈溪市，1950年后在上海完成小学和中学。1968年9月毕业于北京清华大学土建系给排水专业。1994年3月在美国犹他州立大学获土木和环境工程硕士学位。长期从事水处理领域科学研究、工程设计和项目管理。
赵蒙皓
资深跨国教育及文化咨询师。曾在纽约市举世闻名的K-12年制道尔顿学校(The Dalton School)任教多年，并曾任美国名校纽约大学（NYU）的客座教授。上海外国语学院，对外汉语系肄业；美国明德大学（Middlebury College），经济学及日本文学文学双学士；美国马里兰大学商学院（University of Maryland）工商管理硕士。
徐书楷
男，10岁，在美国新泽西州出生。自小喜欢画画。2018年5月，参加了全美保护濒危物种青少年绘画大赛（Saving Endangered Species Youth Art Contest ），获得3-5年级组第一名。2018年6月，在美国奈得史密斯自然与艺术中心（Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art）举办的全国青少年绘画比赛中获得3-5年级组第2名，作品在艺术中心展出一年。
沈樱姿
女，10岁，就读于观海卫镇中心小学三年级。爱好画画，从6岁开始到“我绘艺术”学习创想画。2015年参加第十六PHE国际青少年书画大赛荣获三等奖，2016年参加第十七PHE国际青少年书画大赛荣获一等奖，2018年我参加第一届美乐国际联想画大赛荣获特别荣誉奖。
许道倩
上海五里桥音之魅诵读艺术团团员。
杨晨
英文名：Chen Yang，女，13岁，在Westfield Edison Intermediate School上8年级。性格开朗，喜欢打球和拉琴，以及给小朋友讲故事，当老师。
