A Sheaf of Corn

"A Sheaf of Corn" by Mary E. Mann is a series of related stories that examines the hardships and triumphs of people living in the English countryside long ago. The opening story centers on Dinah Brome, a capable and headstrong woman who grapples with her moral duties to those around her. After overhearing town gossip about the failing health of Car'line Kittle, her neighbor, Dinah initially shrugs it off. However, seeing Car'line's desperate condition awakens Dinah's empathy, leading her to act. Driven by a sense of obligation, Dinah resolves to support the struggling woman, which showcases her own hard work when compared to what she views as the carelessness of others. This paints wider themes of community, inattention, and the difficult choices that come with selflessness and sacrifice, pushing the reader to think about people's roles in society and individual duty.