Induetimetheindorserwascalledupontomeetthematuringobligation。Thiswasthebeginningofaseriesoffinancialdifficultieswhichspeedilyinvolvedhiminruin。Hediedprematurely，adisappointedanddisheartenedman，leavinghisfamilyindirepoverty。
Hiswidowandsurvivingchildrenlivedonforalittlewhileatthehousehehadowned，justoutsideofthetown，ononeofthemaintraveledroads。
Bythewayside，nearthehouse，therewasafamousdeepwell。Theslim，barefootgirl，withsparklingeyesandvoluminoushair，whoplayedabouttheyardandsometimeshandedwaterinagourdtotravelers，didnotlongescapecriticalobservation。
Agentlemandrovebyoneday，stoppedatthewell，smileduponthegirl，andsaidkindwords。Hecameagain，morethanonce，andsoon，whilescarcelymorethanachildinyears，Mollywaslivinginherownhouse，hersbydeedofgift，forherprotectorwasrichandliberal。Hermothernevermoreknewwant。HerpoorrelationscouldalwaysfindamealinMolly’skitchen。Shedidnotflauntherprosperityintheworld’sface；shehiditdiscreetlybehindthecedarscreen。Thosewhowishedcouldknowofit，fortherewerefewsecretsinPatesville；thosewhochosecouldaseasilyignoreit。Therewerefewtotroublethemselvesaboutthesecludedlifeofanobscurewomanofaclasswhichhadnorecognizedplaceinthesocialeconomy。Sheworshipedthegrounduponwhichherlordwalked，washumblygratefulforhisprotection，andquiteasfaithfulastheforbiddenmarriagevowcouldpossiblyhavemadeher。Sheledherlifeinmaterialpeaceandcomfort，andwithacertainamountofdignity。Ofherfalserelationtosocietyshewasnotwithoutsomevagueconception；butthemoralpointinvolvedwassoconfusedwithotherquestionsgrowingout——ofslaveryandcasteastocauseher，asarule，butlittleuneasiness；andonlynowandthen，inthemomentsofdeeperfeelingthatcomesometimestoallwholiveandlove，didtherebreakthroughthemistsofignoranceandprejudicesurroundingheraflashoflightbywhichshesaw，sofarasshewascapableofseeing，hertrueposition，whichintheclearlightoftruthnospecialpleadingcouldentirelyjustify。Forshewasfree，shehadnottheslave’sexcuse。Witheveryinducementtodoevilandfewincentivestodowell，andhenceentitledtocharitablejudgment，sheyethadfreedomofchoice，andthereforecouldnotwhollyescapeblame。Letitbesaid，infurtherextenuation，thatnootherwomanlivedinneglectorsorrowbecauseofher。Sherobbednooneelse。Forwhatlifegavehershereturnedanequivalent；andwhatshedidnotpay，herchildrensettledtothelastfarthing。
Severalyearsbeforethewar，whenMis’Molly’sdaughterRenawasafewyearsold，deathhadsuddenlyremovedthesourceoftheirprosperity。