蚯蚓救援蜻蜓，助人為什麼也是助自己？
蜻蜓受傷，蚯蚓救援，助人為什麼也是助自己？請看惠言童話第16集《蚯蚓和蜻蜓》。
編輯寄語
受疫情影響，自3月16日起，大紐約地區學校陸續關閉，孩子們在家，除了上網課外，各種活動受到限制。如何幫助孩子們度過這個非常時期的枯燥生活，讓家長們十分操心。惠言先生在徵得參與創作者和組織者同意後，主動向我們編輯部提議，把他正在籌划出版的《惠言童話》18篇繪畫本稿子贈給我們網站連載，可以讓孩子們在網上看到和聽到這些故事，有助於提高他們的中文閱讀和聽力水平。
故事文稿是基於惠言先生前幾年在《世界日報》上發表的故事修改的，中美兩地34個孩子們參加了插畫稿創作，上海五里橋文化中心張煒瑋主任組織「音之魅」誦讀沙龍的語言藝術家們創作了9個朗誦作品。希望這些生動有趣的故事、童趣洋溢的圖畫和美妙的朗誦藝術作品，能伴隨孩子們度過新冠疫情這個困難時期。對此，我們向惠言先生；英文稿的校閱者Jason Kenny先生和趙蒙皓女士；上海五里橋文化中心及「音之魅」誦讀沙龍語言藝術家們；參與畫稿創作的孩子們及其家長表示衷心感謝！
本網站將於5月4日（周一）起，每逢周一、三、五連載推出，每次一篇《惠言童話》故事，大約持續六周，歡迎大家下載收看收聽。
16.蚯 蚓 和 蜻 蜓
The Earthworm and the Dragonfly
文： 惠言
畫： 徐書楷 （10歲，圖1-9）；沈櫻姿 （9歲，圖10-18）
英文校閱： Jason Kenny & 趙蒙皓
中文朗誦： 許道倩
英文朗誦： Chen Yang（楊晨）
16.蚯蚓和蜻蜓中文朗誦
16.蚯蚓和蜻蜓英文朗誦
夏日的黃昏，又悶又熱，西邊丘陵的山脊線上，烏雲被殘陽勾勒出靚麗的金邊。
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.
一隻藍色蜻蜓緊貼湖面飛翔，薄薄透明的翅膀反射陽光，絢麗多彩。只見她不時彎曲腹部，動作敏捷地用尾巴點擊水面產卵。蜻蜓產完卵，感覺餓了，就飛到湖邊一塊窪地上低空盤旋，用她那又圓又鼓的複眼，四處尋覓空中的飛蟲。
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.
窪地里長滿了各種野草，盛開著各色野花。蜻蜓看到有隻蒼蠅，正向一叢長滿鋸齒形葉片的植物飛去，就跟蹤追捕。沒想到，這是一叢捕蠅草（Venus Flytrap）。捕蠅草感受到蒼蠅飛落葉中，迅速合攏葉片，夾住了緊隨其後的蜻蜓的翅膀。蜻蜓拚命掙脫，傷了翅膀，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.
一條蚯蚓從泥土裡鑽出來排糞，看到地上的蜻蜓，好奇地過來問候：「蜻蜓夫人，真是稀客，難得在地上見到你。」蜻蜓沮喪地回答：「我翅膀受了傷，不能飛了。」蚯蚓見蜻蜓的一個翅膀微微耷拉著，就關心地問：「我能幫你什麼忙？」蜻蜓憂傷地說：「我的翅膀只是受了輕傷，本來只要休養一兩天就會好的。可是我覺得馬上要下雨了，遭雨淋後，如果沒有食物，又冷又餓，我會死的，也許挺不過今天晚上。我現在很餓，你能幫我找點吃的東西嗎？」
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?”
蚯蚓聽後，安慰蜻蜓說：「別急，我現在就去給你拿些吃的，馬上回來。」不一會兒， 蚯蚓尾部卷著一些腐爛的樹葉草根回來了。蜻蜓一看，哭笑不得地說：「難得你熱心腸，可是我不吃這些東西，我吃新鮮小飛蟲。」 蜻蜓覺得蚯蚓心腸雖好，但是抓不了飛蟲，幫不了忙，就哭起來。
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.
這時候風起雲湧，天上的烏雲越積越厚，接著一道耀眼的閃光，一聲動地的驚雷，眼看大雨將至。蚯蚓趕緊找來幾片彎曲的大樹葉，把樹葉兩端插進土裡，拱起的葉面罩在蜻蜓上方，避免雨水淋濕蜻蜓。
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.
蜻蜓看著蚯蚓幫她搭避雨帳篷，心裡安穩了許多，停止哭泣。蚯蚓搭完帳篷，開始犯難起來，上哪兒去給蜻蜓找小飛蟲呢？他想啊想啊，忽然想起，他打洞時偶爾會遇到螞蟻洞，見過螞蟻洞里儲備有傷亡的小飛蟲。
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.
蚯蚓與螞蟻是近鄰。有時候螞蟻會利用蚯蚓打的洞，加以修整，擴大自己的家，雙方一直友好相處。蚯蚓就對蜻蜓說：「我有辦法了，我去螞蟻那裡討要些小飛蟲。」
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.”
蜻蜓知道螞蟻雖小，但生性兇猛，見過螞蟻集群攻擊受傷昆蟲，分而食之，因此對螞蟻從來是敬而遠之。聽蚯蚓說去找螞蟻求助，生怕招來殺身之禍，正想阻止，蚯蚓已經鑽進土裡。
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.
蚯蚓來到螞蟻洞，向守衛洞庫的兵蟻說明來意，兵蟻帶他去見蟻后。肥胖的蟻后見蚯蚓來求助，問清情況，二話沒說便一口答應：「你是我的好朋友，又那麼有愛心，這個忙我一定要幫。」說完，就安排了十幾個工蟻，去庫里找出一些今天剛入庫、尚未死亡的小飛蟲，跟隨蚯蚓送去。
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.
蜻蜓心裡正忐忑不安，看到蚯蚓回來，身後跟著一群螞蟻，害怕螞蟻趁自己不能飛，圍攻自己，就掙扎著要爬起來。蚯蚓趕緊上前，讓蜻蜓別動，告訴她：「螞蟻是我的好朋友，幫忙送小飛蟲來。」蜻蜓聽說，這才喜出望外，飽餐了一頓螞蟻送來的美味。
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.
雷陣雨很快過去了，蜻蜓在樹葉搭成的帳蓬里安穩地睡了一覺。第二天醒來，發現蚯蚓仍守候在身旁，心裡非常感動。蜻蜓看到下垂的翅膀恢復了平直，於是振振翅膀，居然又飛上天空。
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，十分感激地對蚯蚓說：「謝謝你，你真是一個大好人，盡心竭力救援毫不相干的他人。也要請你代我感謝螞蟻慷慨解囊，出手相助。」蚯蚓笑笑回答說:「不用謝，能幫到你，我也很開心。世間萬物，同住地球村，各有各的用處，我哪能見死不救啊！」
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! ”
分手時，蜻蜓謹慎地建議蚯蚓說：「我對天氣很敏感，我預感到這兩天會有暴風雨，你們居住的湖邊窪地，可能會被大水淹沒，你和螞蟻要儘早搬家，以免受災。」蚯蚓見證過蜻蜓的預感，趕緊轉告蟻后，蟻后表示自己也有預感，正有搬家之意，於是他們兩家立即搬到高地上。
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.
蜻蜓飛走後，一連下了幾天雨，湖水泛濫，窪地成了澤國，一片汪洋。蚯蚓心想：「多虧聽從蜻蜓的勸告，避免了葬身魚腹，看來幫助他人就是幫助自己。」
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 徐書楷 （10歲）
作者簡介
惠言（實名：諸惠昌）
退休水處理專業工程師，退休後撰寫《惠言童話故事》和生活雜記。1946年生於中國浙江省慈溪市，1950年後在上海完成小學和中學。1968年9月畢業於北京清華大學土建系給排水專業。1994年3月在美國猶他州立大學獲土木和環境工程碩士學位。長期從事水處理領域科學研究、工程設計和項目管理。
趙蒙皓
資深跨國教育及文化諮詢師。曾在紐約市舉世聞名的K-12年制道爾頓學校(The Dalton School)任教多年，並曾任美國名校紐約大學（NYU）的客座教授。上海外國語學院，對外漢語系肄業；美國明德大學（Middlebury College），經濟學及日本文學文學雙學士；美國馬里蘭大學商學院（University of Maryland）工商管理碩士。
徐書楷
男，10歲，在美國新澤西州出生。自小喜歡畫畫。2018年5月，參加了全美保護瀕危物種青少年繪畫大賽（Saving Endangered Species Youth Art Contest ），獲得3-5年級組第一名。2018年6月，在美國奈得史密斯自然與藝術中心（Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art）舉辦的全國青少年繪畫比賽中獲得3-5年級組第2名，作品在藝術中心展出一年。
沈櫻姿
女，10歲，就讀於觀海衛鎮中心小學三年級。愛好畫畫，從6歲開始到「我繪藝術」學習創想畫。2015年參加第十六PHE國際青少年書畫大賽榮獲三等獎，2016年參加第十七PHE國際青少年書畫大賽榮獲一等獎，2018年我參加第一屆美樂國際聯想畫大賽榮獲特別榮譽獎。
許道倩
上海五里橋音之魅誦讀藝術團團員。
楊晨
英文名：Chen Yang，女，13歲，在Westfield Edison Intermediate School上8年級。性格開朗，喜歡打球和拉琴，以及給小朋友講故事，當老師。
