Agesuponagesago,whenangelsusedtowanderonearth,thegroundwasmorefruitfulthanitisnow.Thenthestalksofwheatborenotfiftyorsixtyfold,butfourtimesfivehundredfold.Thenthewheat-earsgrewfromthebottomtothetopofthestalk.ButthemenoftheearthforgotthatthisblessingcamefromGod,andtheybecameidleandselfish.

　　Onedayawomanwentthroughawheat-field,andherlittlechild,whoaccompaniedher,fellintoapuddleandsoiledherfrock.Themothertoreoffahandfulofthewheat-earsandcleanedthechild'sdresswiththem.

　　Justthenanangelpassedbyandsawher.Wrathfullyhespoke:

　　"Wastefulwoman,nolongershallthewheat-stalksproduceears.YoumortalsarenotworthyofthegiftsofHeaven!''

　　Somepeasantswhoweregatheringwheatinthefieldsheardthis,andfallingontheirknees,prayedandentreatedtheangeltoleavethewheatalone,notonlyontheiraccount,butforthesakeofthelittlebirdswhootherwisemustperishofhunger.

　　Theangelpitiedtheirdistress,andgrantedapartoftheprayer.Andfromthatdaytothistheearsofwheathavegrownastheydonow.

　　多少年前,天上还有天使飞翔,地上五谷丰饶,小麦产量是现在的上千倍,麦杆上从上到下长满麦穗,人们忘记了这是上天的恩赐,变得懒惰自私.

　　一天一个妇人带小孩去麦田,小孩不小心摔倒在水潭里,弄脏了衣服.妇人扯下一把麦穗给小孩擦泥巴.

　　这时天使飞过,都看在眼里,天使愤怒的说：“你这浪费的妇人!从今以后麦子不长穗了!你们凡人不值得上天的恩惠!”

　　田里其他收割的农夫听到了,一齐跪下,恳求天使开恩不让麦子停止长穗,不光为农人自己,小鸟没吃的也会死光的.

　　天使起了怜悯之心,准许麦子继续长穗,但长得没以前多了.从那时至今,麦子就只长这么多穗了.