Mr. and Mrs. Albino, with 64 children, have the world's largest family. Not one of their children is adopted(领养).
When people hear about the Albinos' large family, the first question they ask is, "How is it possible? How can one woman give birth to 64 children in her lifetime?" The answer is simple:
Soon after the Albinos got married, the children came quickly, in twos and threes. The first 21 children were boys. Mrs. Albino loved her sons, but she wanted a daughter very much.
The Albinos spent the early years in Argentina. To travel from Argentina to Chile, they had to cross the Andes Mountains. Mr. and Mrs. Albino and their 21 sons made the difficult, two-week journey on mules.
During the snowstorm, Mrs. Albino gave birth to triplets, a boy and two girls!
The oldest Albino children are in their thirties and forties. They are on their own now, but 18 of the Albino children still live with their parents. The shack has electricity but no toilet or running water. The children wash in a small bowl in the dusty backyard.
At times there is very little food in the Albinos' small house when there is not enough food for everyone, Mrs. Albino makes sure the youngest children do not go hungry. "The smallest eat first, and then the bigger ones. We've always done it that way," she says. Obviously, the Albinos do not have enough money for their big family, then, do they continue to have children?
The Albinos do not use birth control because it is against their religion(宗教). They could let other people take care of their children, but Mrs. Albino will not allow it, "When my two brothers and I were babies," she says, "our mother left us at an orphanage(孤儿院) and never returned. We lived there together until we were five. Then a couple adopted my brothers and I was left behind. I was heartbroken. Even if I didn't have much money, I would always take care of my children by myself." Mrs. Albino has kept her promise.
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A. Every time Mrs. Albino gave birth, she had twins or triplets. B. One night there was a terrible snowstorm in the mountains. C. Then they decided to move to Chile. D. The family lives in a two- room shack(小屋) in Colina Chile. E. Mrs. Albino loves her children very much. F. I promised myself that when I became a mother, I would never give my children away. |
