Chapter 3 Summary

Over the next few years Macondo changes—the influx of people brings commerce, money, and growth. Jose Arcadio Buendia eagerly engages himself in the progress and becomes something of an unofficial mayor, accepted nearly by all. Ursula hires an Indian woman named Visitacion to serve as nanny to the children. Meanwhile Aureliano, through self education, becomes a canny alchemist and a superb silversmith. One Sunday an eleven year old girl arrives at Ursula's house - she is Rebeca from distant Manaure. Her introductory letter explains that she is a distant relative and an orphan. Ursula and Jose Arcadio Buendia are sure she is not really related but the girl carries her parents' bones in a sack and is obviously destitute and needy and thus they accept her as their own child. As Macondo has no cemetery, the bag with her parents' bones remains...