Grimm's Household Tales UNDER CONSTRUCTION | Annotated Tale

All tales with known ATU tale types entered with footnotes. Still missing Introduction materials and End Notes to Tales.



194. Ear of Corn, The

IN FORMER times, when God himself still walked the earth, the fruitfulness of the soil was much greater than it is now; then the ears of corn did not bear fifty or sixty, but four or five hundred-fold. Then the corn grew from the bottom to the very top o f the stalk, and according to the length of the stalk was the length of the ear. Men however are so made, that when they are too well off they no longer value the blessings which come from God, but grow indifferent and careless. One day a woman was passing by a corn-field when her little child, who was running beside her, fell into a puddle, and dirtied her frock. On this the mother tore up a handful of the beautiful ears of corn, and cleaned the frock with them.

               When the Lord, who just then came by, saw that, he was angry, and said, "Henceforth shall the stalks of corn bear no more ears; men are no longer worthy of heavenly gifts." The by-standers who heard this, were terrified, and fell on their knees and prayed that he would still leave something on the stalks, even if the people were undeserving of it, for the sake of the innocent birds which would otherwise have to starve. The Lord, who foresaw their suffering, had pity on them, and granted the request. So the ears were left as they now grow.

Bibliographic Information

Tale Title: 194. Ear of Corn, The
Tale Author/Editor: Grimm, Jacob & Grimm, Wilhelm
Book Title: Grimm's Household Tales UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Book Author/Editor: Grimm, Jacob & Grimm, Wilhelm
Publisher: George Bell and Sons
Publication City: London
Year of Publication: 1884
Country of Origin: Germany
Classification: ATU 779: Miscellaneous Divine Rewards and Punishments








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