Сто лет одиночества

           Sincehishousefromtheveryfirsthadbeenthebestinthevillage,theothershadbeenbuiltinitsimageandlikeness.Ithadasmall,well-lightedlivingroost,adiningroomintheshapeofaterracewithgailycoloredflowers,twobedrooms,acourtyardwithagiganticchestnuttree,awellkeptgarden,andacorralwheregoats,pigs,andhenslivedinpeacefulcommunion.Theonlyanimalsthatwereprohibited,notjustinhishousebutintheentiresettlement,werefightingcocks.

           Orsula’scapacityforworkwasthesameasthatofherhusband.Active,small,severe,thatwomanofun-breakablenerveswhoatnomomentinherlifehadbeenheardtosingseemedtobeeverywhere,fromdawnuntilquitelateatnight,alwayspursuedbythesoftwhisperingofherstiff,starchedpetticoats.Thankstoherthefloorsoftampedearth,theunwhitewashedmudwalls,therustic,woodenfurnituretheyhadbuiltthem-selveswerealwaysdean,andtheoldchestswheretheykepttheirclothesexhaledthewarmsmellofbasil.JoseArcadioBuendfa,whowasthemostenterprisingmanevertobeseeninthevillage,hadsetuptheplacementofthehousesinsuchawaythatfromallofthemonecouldreachtheriveranddrawwaterwiththesameeffort,andhehadlinedupthestreetswithsuchgoodsensethatnohousegotmoresunthananotherduringthehottimeofday.WithinafewyearsMacondowasavillagethatwasmoreorderlyandhardworkingthananyknownuntilthenbyitsthreehundredinhabitants.Itwasatrulyhappyvillagewherenoonewasoverthirtyyearsofageandwherenoonehaddied.

           Sincethetimeofitsfounding,JoseArcadioBuendfahadbuilttrapsandcages.Inashorttimehefillednotonlyhisownhousebutallofthoseinthevillagewithtroupials,canaries,beeeaters,andredbreasts.