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is or are not sufficient for maintenance, support or education, of
the said child,) to some manufacturer, mechanic, mariner, handi-
craftsman, or other person, at the discretion of the said justices,
until such orphan child, if a male, shall arrive to the age of
twenty-one years, or if a female, to the age of sixteen* years;
and the said justices are hereby directed, in all cases where
they can, to make it a part of the contract on the part of the
master or mistress of such apprentice, that he or she shall give
such orphan child reasonable education in reading and writing,
or in reading, writing and arithmetic, to be particularized there-
in, and also teach such orphan, especially if a male, some
useful art or trade, and in all cases supply suitable clothing and
maintenance ; and the said justices shall and may also bind
out as apprentices, such children as are suffering through the
extreme indigence or poverty of their parents, also the children
of beggars, and also illegitimate children, and the children of
persons out of this state, where a sufficient sustenance is not
afforded, in like manner, and on like terms ; provided always,
that when any child is about to be bound out, the parent or
parents of said child, if living in the county, shall be summoned
to appear before the said justices, and the inclination of the said
parent or parents so far as is reasonable, shall be consulted in
the choice of the person to whom the said child shall be bound
out; and provided always, that when any child shall be before
the court for the purpose of being bound out as an apprentice,
if any relation or other person will, with good and sufficient
security, enter into bond in the penalty of one hundred pounds,
for the due and comfortable maintenance, and for the providing
sufficient and proper clothing for such child till of age as afore-
said, and also for the reasonable schooling and education of
such child, then the court shall not proceed to bind out such
child as aforesaid.
*By 1818, ch. 189, females may be bound out until the age of eighteen.
By 1794, ch. 47, when the orphans court is not in session, any two jus-
tices of the peace are empowered to bind out children on the same terms,
&c. prescribed by this act. The contract to be approved and recorded
agreeably to the sixth section of this act.
By 1818, ch. 189, the court may dispense with the obligation to teach
the child to read or write, and in lieu thereof, allow to the child, at the end
of his apprenticeship, a sum not exceeding $30.
By the act of 1820, ch. 99; 1821, ch. 124 and 138, the trustees of the
poor, the orphans court of Baltimore county, the Benevolent Society of
Baltimore, the Orphaline Charity School, may bind out children until they
arrive at the age of nineteen.
By 1826, ch. 161, the justices of the peace for the city and county of
Baltimore, the trustees of the poor of Baltimore city and county, the ward
managers of the poor in the city of Baltimore, and the district managers of
the poor in Baltimore county, may take children who are begging about the
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Justices
may bind
out orphan
children,
&c.
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