新生兒

張恒

The bush was alive with excitement. Mrs. Koala had a brand new baby， and the news spread like wildfire. The kookaburras in the highest gum-trees heard of it， and laughed and chuckled at the idea. In and out of their burrows the rabbits came scuttling1， their big brown eyes opening wide with wonder as they heard the news. Over the grass the message went where Mrs. Kangaroo was quietly hopping towards her home. She fairly leapt2 in the air with joy. “I must tell Mr. Kangaroo！” she cried and bounded away in great hops and leaps. Even Mrs. Snake， who was having a nap， awoke， gave a wriggle， and blinked her wicked little eyes.

灌木叢在興奮的氣氛里活躍起來。考拉太太剛生了一個孩子，這個消息像野火一樣蔓延開來。住在那棵最高的桉樹上的笑翠鳥一家聽到這個消息后咯咯地大笑。兔子在洞里進進出出，聽到這個消息，驚訝地睜大了兩只棕色的大眼睛。在草地上，消息傳到袋鼠夫人那兒時，她正悄悄地向家里跳去。她非常高興地跳到空中，叫道：“我必須告訴袋鼠先生！”然后蹦蹦跳跳地走了。就連打盹的蛇太太也醒了，她扭動了一下身體，眨了眨那雙邪惡的小眼睛。

The whole bushland was twittering3 with the news， for a baby bear was a great event. Mrs. Koala had a baby every two years， and as Mrs. Rabbit had very， very many during that time， you can just imagine how surprised everyone was. In the fork of a gum-tree， far above the ground， Mrs. Koala nursed her baby， peeping4 every now and then at the tiny creature in her pouch5. This little baby was the funniest little creature. He was only about an inch long and covered with soft baby fur， had two big ears， compared to the size of the rest of him， a tiny black nose， and two beady6 eyes. His mother and father always had a surprised look on their faces， but they looked more surprised than ever now as they gazed at their baby， Blinky Bill.

整個灌木叢都在竊竊私語，因為一只小考拉熊的出生是一件大事。考拉太太每兩年生一個孩子，而兔子太太在這期間生了很多、很多個孩子，你可以想象大家是多么驚訝。在離地面很遠的桉樹樹杈上，考拉夫人照料著她的孩子，不時窺視著她育兒袋里的小東西。這個小嬰兒是世上最有趣的小動物。他只有一英寸長，身上長滿柔軟的幼崽皮毛，與他身體的其他部位相比，他的兩個耳朵很大，黑色的鼻子很小，眼睛像兩個水珠。他的父母總是滿臉驚訝，但是當他們盯著自己的孩子“眨眼睛比爾”時，看起來比以往任何時候都更吃驚。

He peeped at them and blinked， as much as to say， “Arent you glad Im here？”

他偷看了他們一眼，眨了眨眼，好像在說：“你們不高興我在這兒嗎？”

Mr. Koala puffed7 out his cheeks with pride， and his wife hugged her baby tighter than ever.

考拉先生驕傲地鼓起雙頰，他的妻子把孩子抱得比之前更緊了。

There had been quite a lot of quarrelling and jealousy8 among the bush folk as to who should be the babys nurse.

關于誰來當嬰兒保姆的事導致灌木叢里的人們之間產生了很多爭論和嫉恨。

Mrs. Kookaburra was the first to offer her services， and she came flying over to the tree where the Koalas lived. Knocking on the tree with her strong beak9 she asked if she might come in.

笑翠鳥夫人是第一個來提供服務的。她飛到考拉住的那棵樹上，用堅硬的嘴敲了敲樹，問她是否可以進來。

“Certainly，” said Mrs. Bear， “if you dont laugh and wake the baby up.”

“當然可以，”熊太太說，“如果你不大笑吵醒孩子的話?！?/p>

“Do you want a nurse for him？” Mrs. Kookaburra asked worriedly.

“你想給他找個保姆嗎？”笑翠鳥夫人焦急地問。

“Yes， I do，” Mrs. Bear replied.

“是的，”熊太太回答。

“Will I do？” Mrs. Kookaburra asked.

“我能行嗎？”笑翠鳥太太問。

“Oh， no！” said Mrs. Bear. “Your laugh is so loud and you chuckle so long that youd wake the baby up.”

“哦，不行！”熊太太說。“你笑得太大聲了，而且笑得太久，會把孩子吵醒的?！?/p>

Poor Mrs. Kookaburra was very disappointed and flew off to tell Mrs. Magpie about it.

可憐的笑翠鳥太太很失望，飛去告訴喜鵲太太這個消息。

“Ill go over and see if I can be the nurse，” said Mrs. Magpie. “Mrs. Bear is very particular and Im sure I will suit.” She gave her feathers a fluff10 and sharpened her beak， then straight to the Koalas home she flew.

“我去看看能不能當上保姆?！毕铲o太太說，“熊太太很挑剔，我相信我會適合的?！彼读硕队鹈?，磨利了嘴，然后直接飛到了考拉的家。

“Come in，” called Mrs. Bear on hearing the peck at the tree.

“進來吧，”熊太太聽到啄樹的聲音，叫道。

“Good morning， Mrs. Koala. I hear you are wanting a nurse for the baby. Im sure I could keep the baby in order as Ive had a few dozen myself.”

“早上好，考拉太太。我聽說你想給孩子找個保姆。我相信我能把孩子教得規(guī)規(guī)矩矩，因為我自己已經(jīng)養(yǎng)了幾十個?！?/p>

“Thank you， Mrs. Magpie，” said Mrs. Bear very politely， “but I dont like the look of your beak. You could give a very nasty11 peck with it.”

“謝謝你，喜鵲太太。”熊太太很客氣地說，“但是我不喜歡你的嘴。你會用它狠狠地啄人?！?/p>

“They all want a peck sometimes，” said Mrs. Magpie in a very cross tone. At this the baby bear popped his head right out of his mothers pouch and blinked very hard.

喜鵲太太用一種非常生氣的語氣說道：“他們有時都挺欠啄的?！边@時，小熊突然從媽媽的育兒袋里探出頭來，使勁眨了眨眼。

“They all want a peck sometimes，” said Mrs. Magpie.

“他們有時都挺欠啄的?！毕铲o太太說。

“If you are so particular， Ill send along a friend of mine who will suit you very well.” And saying this Mrs. Magpie gave the tree a hard peck and flew off. Imagine Mrs. Koalas surprise when she peeped down the tree later on and saw Mrs. Snake slowl

y wriggling her way upwards. Oh， she was frightened！

“如果你這么挑剔，那我就找一個非常符合你要求的朋友來。”喜鵲太太說，她狠狠啄了一下那棵樹，然后飛走了。想象一下，考拉太太后來從樹上看到下面蛇太太慢慢向上爬的時候，她會感到多驚訝。哦，她嚇壞了！

“Go away， Mrs. Snake！” she called in a loud voice.

“走開，蛇太太！”她大聲喊道。

“Ive come to nurse the baby; Mrs. Magpie sent me.” And Mrs. Snake wriggled higher up the tree. Right on to the branch where Mrs. Koala sat she came， and coiled herself round the fork

“我是來照顧孩子的，喜鵲太太讓我來的?！鄙咛郎蠘洌捅P繞在考拉太太坐的樹枝上。

“I dont want a nurse.” And poor frightened Mrs. Bear tried to push the babys head back in the pouch. But he would peep out.

“我不要保姆。”可憐受到驚嚇的熊太太試圖把孩子的頭推回育兒袋里，但他還是偷看。

“Hes a nice little fellow， and like his daddy，” said Mrs. Snake slyly. “I can take him along on my back for such lovely rides up and down trees and in and out big black holes.”

“他是個不錯的小家伙，和他爸爸一樣，”蛇太太狡猾地說?！拔铱梢园阉吃诒成?，讓他開心地騎著在樹林里上上下下，在大黑洞里進進出出地玩?！?/p>

Hearing this Mrs. Bear nearly fell off the tree with fright， and began to cry.

聽到這話，熊太太嚇得差點從樹上掉下來，然后哭了起來。

Now Mr. Koala had been listening to Mrs. Snake as he sat on a branch just round the corner. Slowly he climbed over to Mrs. Snake and caught her in his claws. Before anyone had time to see what was happening he pushed her off the branch and she went tumbling12 to the ground below. Two very frightened bears peeped down from the tree， and there they saw Mrs. Snake slowly crawling away in the grass.

此時考拉先生坐在拐角處的一根樹枝上，一直在聽蛇太太說話。他慢慢爬到蛇太太跟前，用爪子抓住她。還沒來得及看清發(fā)生了什么事，他就把她推下了樹枝，讓她跌跌撞撞地摔在地上。兩只非常害怕的熊從樹上往下看，看見蛇太太從草地上慢慢地爬走了。

They were just beginning to recover from this fright when a thump， thump， thump， was heard on the ground at the foot of the tree.

他們剛從這場驚嚇中恢復過來，就聽到從樹底下的地面?zhèn)鱽砼?、砰、砰的聲音?/p>

“Whos there？” called Mrs. Bear in a very frightened voice.

“誰在那兒？”熊太太喊道，聲音里滿是驚恐。

“Its just me！” came the reply.

“是我！”那人回答。

“Whos ‘me？” cried Mr. Bear.

“誰是‘我？”熊先生吼道。

“Angelina Wallaby，” called a very soft voice.

“袋鼠安吉麗娜，”一個非常柔和的聲音喊道。

“Come up， come up，” Mrs. Bear replied.

“上來，上來。”熊太太回答。

“I cant climb; my tail is all wrong，” said Angelina.

安吉麗娜說：“我爬不上去，我的尾巴有問題?！?/p>

“Well， Ill come down， if Mrs. Snake is nowhere about，” said Mrs. Bear. And she slowly started to climb down the tree. Very carefully she went， always grasping the tree with her strong claws， her back showing all the time， while she cleverly looked over her shoulder now and then to see that all was safe below. It took her quite a time to reach the ground and she felt very nervous.

“好吧，如果蛇太太不在的話，我就下來，”熊太太說。然后她慢慢地爬下樹，每爬一步都非常小心，一直用她有力的爪子抓著那棵樹，她的后背一直暴露著，同時她機智地不時回頭往下看，審視下面是否一切安全。她爬到地上花了很長時間，真的非常緊張。

Angelina Wallaby hopped over to her and looked in surprise at the baby.

袋鼠安吉麗娜跳到她跟前，驚訝地看著嬰兒。

“What a dear little fellow！” she said， her great brown eyes rounding with excitement. At the same time she put out her paws to touch him.

“多么可愛的小家伙！”她說，那雙棕色的大眼睛興奮得溜溜轉，同時還伸出爪子去碰他。

“Oh， dont！” cried Mrs. Bear. “He is so small and your nails might hurt him.”

“哦，別這樣！”熊太太喊道?！八×?，你的指甲可能會傷到他。”

“Ive been all the morning blunting13 them on a stone so that I could pat him，” said Angelina in a disappointed voice.

安吉麗娜失望地說：“我整個早上都在石頭上磨鈍它們，這樣我就可以拍拍他了?！?/p>

“Oh， Im sorry，” said Mrs. Bear. “I did not mean to be rude， but Mrs. Snake gave me such a fright.”

“哦，對不起，”熊太太說。“我無意無禮，但蛇太太嚇了我一跳?！?/p>

“Ill be ever so gentle，” said Angelina， “if you let me pat him just this once.”

安吉麗娜說：“如果你讓我拍拍他，即使一次也好，我會非常溫柔的?！?/p>

“Very well，” smiled Mrs. Bear as she opened her pouch.

“那好吧，”熊太太打開袋子微笑著說。

Angelina Wallaby patted him twice， then sniffed him all over with her soft nose. Now her eyelashes caught in his little toes， but Angelina did not mind， as she had had babies herself and knew just what to do.

袋鼠安吉麗娜拍了他兩下，然后用她柔軟的鼻子嗅了嗅他。這樣一來她的睫毛就卡在了他的小腳趾上，但安吉麗娜并不介意，因為她自己也生了孩子，知道該怎么做。

“I wish I could mind him for you sometimes， Mrs. Bear. Id be so gentle with him.”

“熊太太，我真希望有時能替你照顧他。我會對他很溫柔的?！?/p>

“Im sure you would be the very kindest nurse，” replied Mrs. Bear. “But what could you do for him？”

“我相信你會是最善良的保姆，”熊太太回答?！暗悄隳軒鍪裁茨?？”

“I would come along in the evenings， and take him out for a walk. Ive got a pouch just like yours， and Id put him in it and hop along very gently， so he wouldnt feel the bumps.”

“我會晚上來帶他出去散步。我有一個和你一樣的育兒袋，我把他塞進袋子里輕輕地跳著走，這樣他就不會感到顛簸了。”

“I think that is a good idea，” said Mrs. Bear.

“我覺得這是個好主意，”熊太太說。

So it was arranged that Mrs. Bear should climb down the tree every evening and meet Angelina Wallaby who would take the baby for a walk in the bush.

于是就這樣說好了，熊太太每天晚上從樹上爬下來去見袋鼠安吉麗娜。然后她會帶著孩子在灌木叢中散步。

Imagine how proud Angelina felt！She hopped home very quickly that evening to tell her friends the news.

想象一下安吉麗娜有多自豪！那天晚上，她很快就回到家里，把這個消息告訴了她的朋友們。

Next day， just as the sun was setting， she came to the foot of the gum-tree and thumped three times on the ground with her tail. Mrs. Bear peeped around the corner of her home and， seeing Angelina at the foot of the tree， called out：

第二天，太陽剛落山的時候她就到了桉樹下，用尾巴在地上敲了三下。熊太太在她家的拐角處偷看，一看見安吉麗娜站在樹下就大聲叫道：

“Im coming down with the baby， so watch for Mrs. Snake.” Then she carefully and slowly climbed to the bottom of the tree.

“我要和孩子一起下來了，小心提防蛇太太?！比缓笏⌒囊硪淼芈赖綐湎隆?/p>

“Is the coast clear？” she anxiously asked.

“海邊安全嗎？“她焦急地問。

“Yes， Mrs. Bear. I passed Mrs. Snake on the road a mile away.”

“安全，熊太太。我剛才在一英里外的路上遇到了蛇太太?！?/p>

“Well， do be careful， Angelina; and bring him back before the day breaks. Is your pouch warm？” And Mrs. Bear checked Angelinas pouch.

“好吧，一定要當心，安吉麗娜，天亮之前把他帶回來。你的育兒袋暖和嗎？”熊太太檢查了一下安吉麗娜的育兒袋。

“Yes， Mrs. Bear. It may be a little large， so I padded it well with grass; but its very warm and not a bit draughty14.”

“暖和，熊太太。它可能有點大，所以我用草墊著，很暖和，也不會漏一點風。”

So the baby was carefully taken from his mothers pouch and gently placed in Angelinas.

于是嬰兒被小心地從母親的育兒袋中取出，輕輕地放在了安吉麗娜的育兒袋中。

Waving a paw to Mrs. Bear she took a hop and then peeped down at the baby to see what he thought of it. Taking several more hops she soon started away for the bush track and in no time came to Mrs. Rabbits home. Thumping her tail on the ground， she waited a moment. Mrs. Rabbit popped her head out of the burrow.

她向熊太太揮揮爪子，跳了跳，然后看了看孩子，看他覺得怎么樣。她又跳了幾下，很快就踏上了灌木小徑，馬上就來到了兔子太太的家。她用尾巴拍打地面，等了一會兒后，兔子太太從洞里探出頭來。

“Good evening， Mrs. Rab. Ive brought the baby to show you.”

“晚上好，兔子太太。我把孩子帶來給你瞧瞧?！?/p>

“Good gracious， how lovely！” said Mrs. Rabbit. Angelina gently drew the baby bear from her pouch. Several more bunnies came round to see the new arrival.

“太棒了，多可愛??！”兔子太太說。安吉麗娜輕輕把小熊從她的育兒袋里取出來。又有幾只小兔子來看新生兒。

“Just look at his ears！” cried Mrs. Rabbit. “Im sure Id never hear with those furry things. And， oh dear， no tail！—Well， well！Take care he does not catch cold. I really think he should have a tail to keep him warm. I have a spare one hanging on the wall of the burrow. Poor Mr. Rabbit was shot， and I found his skin near by; but I managed to bite off the tail and bring it home.” Here poor Mrs. Rabbit burst into tears.

“瞧瞧他的耳朵！”兔子太太叫道?！拔铱隙ㄎ覐膩頉]有聽說過這種毛茸茸的東西。哦，天哪，沒有尾巴！——好吧！小心別讓他著涼。我真的認為他應該有個尾巴來保暖。我有一個備用的掛在洞壁上。可憐的兔子先生被射中了，我在附近發(fā)現(xiàn)了他的皮毛;但我設法咬掉他的尾巴帶回了家?！闭f著，可憐的兔子太太哭了起來。

“Never mind， my dear，” said Angelina gentlely. “If it will please you， we will tie it on the baby.”

“沒關系，親愛的，”安吉麗娜溫柔說道?！叭绻阍敢?，我們會把它綁在嬰兒身上?！?/p>

Mrs. Rabbit dried her eyes with her paw and went sniffling15 down into the burrow.

兔子太太用爪子擦干眼淚，抽噎著往洞里走去。

“I wont be a moment，” she called from somewhere down under the ground.

“我一會兒就好，”她從地下某處喊道。

Up she came in a very short time carrying the tail in her two front paws.

很快她就用兩只前爪抓著尾巴上來了。

“What can we sew it on with？” inquired Angelina.

“我們用什么把它縫上去呢？”安吉麗娜問。

“Well tie it on with a piece of grass.” And Mrs. Rabbit hopped round until she found a nice long piece.

“我們用一根草把它綁起來。”兔子太太跳了一圈，找到一根很長的草。

“Heres just the thing！” she cried， and came hopping back with it in her teeth.

“就是這個！”她叫了一聲，用牙咬著草跳了回來。

Angelina excitedly pulled the baby out of her pouch， and together they fastened the tail on. It did look funny， as it was almost as long as the baby; but it certainly would keep him warm.

安吉麗娜興奮地把孩子從育兒袋里取出來，他們一起把尾巴給他系上?？雌饋泶_實很有趣，因為它幾乎和嬰兒一樣長;但肯定很保暖。

Saying her friend good night she hopped on her way. The moon was now shining brightly and all the bush was silent， except for the sound of those little animals who are always busy at night-time. Angelina smelled the night air with delight and felt very happy as she thought of the baby in her pouch. Hopping along between the great grey gum-trees she was suddenly scared to see Mrs. Snake lying right across her pathway.

和朋友道過晚安后，安吉麗娜跳上了回去的路。月亮此時正明亮地照耀著，整個灌木叢都靜了下來，除了那些總是在夜間忙碌的小動物的聲音。安吉麗娜愉快地聞了聞夜晚的空氣，一想到育兒袋里的孩子就非常高興。她在巨大的灰色桉樹之間跳來跳去，突然嚇了一跳——她看見蛇太太正躺在自己要走的那條路的對面。