In former times, when God himself still walked the earth, the soil was much more fruitful than it is now. Ears of corn bore not fifty or sixty, but four or five hundred grains. The corn grew from the bottom to the very top of the stalk, and the ear was as long as the stalk itself. However, human nature is such that when life is too easy, people cease to value God's blessings and become indifferent.
One day, a woman was passing by a cornfield when her little child, running beside her, fell into a puddle and dirtied her frock. The mother then tore up a handful of the beautiful ears of corn and used them to clean the dress.
When the Lord, who happened to be passing by, saw this, he was angry and said, "Henceforth, stalks of corn shall bear no more ears. Mankind is no longer worthy of heavenly gifts." The bystanders who heard this were terrified. They fell to their knees and pleaded that He might still leave something on the stalks for the sake of the innocent birds, who would otherwise starve, even if people were undeserving. The Lord, foreseeing their suffering, took pity and granted their request. And so the ears were left as they grow today.