2076

48.
FORM OF A CONTRACT.

Between the Country Applicant and the Children's Aid Society
of Baltimore, Md.; with explanatory notes.

BALTIMORE, 186
Mr.

Dear Sir:—In reply to your inquiries respecting children
to be sent into the country, we would make the following
statement of our purposes and plan of working:

We receive children from 8 to 15 years for boys, and from
8 to 12 for girls.

Children without parents or guardians, can be adopted or
indentured by the proper authorities, in the county town of
the applicant.

We can sometimes induce parents to make a legal transfer
of their children, but more frequently we only have per-
mission to send them, with the exceptation that, it both parties
are satisfied after a trial of two months, the children are to
remain till of age; if the children do not prove satisfactory,
they may be returned to us at the expiration of two months,
if not bound.

We do not place children out as servants, but wish for them
good homes in Christian families, where trey will be treated
with kindness, have opportunities for school, be trained to
habits of industry, under a religious influence, and with
those who will take an interest in their future welfare.

A letter of recommendation from your pastor, or. some re-
sponsible person, is necessary, if you live in a neighborhood
where we have a "Local Committee," we require its endorse-
ment, and if you have acquaintances in Baltimore, we wish
their address. When the child is of age, some provision in
money or otherwise must be made for it. See questions 13
and 14.

Persons are expected to call at the "Home," or send some
responsible person for the children. Those who cannot call
or send, must wait until the Agent can deliver the children
to them, and they are expected to pay their traveling expen-
ses from Baltimore, and also back, if returned.

It is required that parties applying give full information as
to their wants, and it is advised that they apply for the
younger children, experience teaching us that they are more
easily managed, and give more general satisfaction than the
older.

We shall insist upon your writing us in regard to the wel-
fare of the child twice a year, on the first of January and
first of July.

WM. C. PALMER, Agent.