La Rabouilleuse — Honore de Balzac

This is the tale of the Bridau family as they try to regain their rightful inheritance after a series of unfortunate setbacks. Agathe Rouget is sent to live in Paris with relatives, where she meets and marries a man named Bridau. They raise two sons -- but Agathe runs into trouble when the costs of living rise too high. The title of this novel is often translated as The Black Sheep.