Twenty-six Men and a Girl

Twenty-six Men and a Girl is a 1899 short story by the Russian writer Maxim Gorky, one of his most famous works.

Plot

Twenty-six men labor making kringles in a cellar, which is effectively a sweatshop. They are looked down upon by all around them, including the bun bakers. Their only seeming solace is the sixteen-year-old Tanya who visits them every morning for kringles they give her.
A new baker, a soldier, joins the bun bakers. Unlike all others they know, he befriends them, boasting of his virility with women. He ultimately seduces Tanya.
Upon learning about this, the bakers surround Tanya and yell abuse at her. After regaining her composure, she rebukes them. Afterwards, Tanya never stops at the bakery again.