English Original
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.
中文翻译
在远古时代，当神还行走于大地之上时，土地的丰饶远胜今日。那时，一株麦穗结出的不是五六十粒，而是四五百粒麦子。麦秆从底到顶都长满麦穗，麦穗的长度就和麦秆一样长。然而，人性如此：当生活过于安逸，人们便不再珍惜神的恩赐，变得冷漠与疏忽。
一天，一位妇女路过一片麦田，她身边奔跑的小孩子跌进了水坑，弄脏了连衣裙。这位母亲便扯下一把美丽的麦穗，用它来擦拭裙子。
恰巧路过的上帝看到这一幕，十分生气，说道：“从今以后，麦秆上将不再结穗。人类不再配得上天赐的礼物。”听到此话的旁观者惊恐万分。他们跪倒在地，祈求上帝看在那些无辜鸟儿的份上，依然在麦秆上留下些东西，否则鸟儿将会饿死，即便人类不配得到恩赐。上帝预见了鸟儿的苦难，心生怜悯，答应了他们的请求。于是，麦穗便成了如今生长的模样。