These are only a few of the words that describe the novel Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns. This story tells about a young boy, an old man, and a coming of age town that experiences progression in the turn of the twentieth century. Everyone learns that nothing can stay the same forever and they must accept aht and keep living life. The motif of change runs through this novel.
Change is something that is all around everyone at all times. Sometimes the biggest change in people's lives can be the death of a loved one, or the arrival of a newcomer. This was definately the case as Mattie Lou, grandmother to Will Tweedy, and wife to Rucker Blakeskee, passed away on June 14, 1906. Three weeks after her death, the Tweedys and the town of Cold Sassy were forced to accept young Love Simpson as the new Mrs. Rucker Blakeslee. Cold Sassy considered the marriage scandalis and several people of the community assumed Mr. Blakeslee had been sweet on his milliner from the beginning and couldn't wait ot get rid of Mattie Lou. All of the Tweedy family were appauled and shocked when Rucker made hes wedding announcement claiming, "'Well, Mattie Lou's dead as she'ss ever be, ain't she?"' (pg.6) Mary Willis took the news of her new step mother the worst. She felt she could never show her face again in Cold Sassy. Feeling embarrassed for her whole family, Mary Willis couldn't understand how her father could marry so soon after her mother's death when the respectable thing to do was to at least wail a year. Mrs. Love was also embarrassed, because even though no one said it plainly, the town was unconsciously shunning her. Eventually, Mrs. Love stopped going to her church because of the constant talk about her behind her back. Change occured all over town because of this hasty marriage.
The unexpected marraige started out as only bing a business arrangement. Mr. Blakeslee reinforces this by saying, "'I got to go and git married, or hire me a house keeper one.