The Cursed Patois From "Mackinac And Lake Stories", 1899

"The Cursed Patois" by Mary Hartwell Catherwood is a story set in a scenic Michigan camp, where love, cultural blending, and goodwill intertwine. Frank Brown and Frank Puttany's tranquil camp life at Brevoort Lake is upended when they welcome Françoise La France, a widow, and her son, Gougou, into their home. As the two men adjust to their expanded household, a connection deepens between Brown and Françoise during shared meals and camp activities. The story escalates when Françoise's husband’s brother threatens to disrupt everything, prompting Brown to propose marriage as a solution. Catherwood highlights the tranquility of country living through the novel, while exploring the issues of love and family against a backdrop of combined cultures.