麥穗是麥莖頂端的花或果實部分，下面是一篇有關《麥穗的故事》的格林童話故事，有中英文版本，歡迎大家閱讀!

　　遠古時代，當上帝親自巡視大地時，土地的產量比現在高得多。 那時，麥穗不只結五六十粒，而是四五百粒，麥稈從頭到腳長滿了麥粒，稈有多長，穗就有多長。 然而人類是如此的淺俗，他們生活豐裕時，就不再珍惜上蒼的恩賜，以致變得漫不經心、大手大腳。 一天，一位婦女路經一片麥地，她的小孩在她身邊跑著，一下跌進了泥坑里，弄臟了小衣服。

　　于是，這位母親扯下一把漂亮的麥穗，用它擦凈了衣服。

　　碰巧上帝從這兒經過，見到這情形他非常生氣，說："從此麥稈不再結穗，人類不配再獲得上蒼的賜予。"周圍的人聽到這話嚇壞了，紛紛跪下，祈求上帝仍留些麥穗于稈上，即使人類不配這一恩賜，但是為了那些無辜的家禽，求上帝開恩，否則它們就會餓死。 上帝預見到人類的苦難，可憐他們，答應了這一請求。 于是麥穗留了下來，就像現在生長的這樣子。

　　麥穗的故事英文版：

　　The ear of corn

　　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 praye d 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.