My sister was telling me about a little fellow coming to Mother's door (not too long before she passed away) seeking permission to pick dew worms from her lawn and flower beds. She assured the lad that it would be okay provided he did not trample the flowers. Thanking her for her kindness and departing, she shortly afterwards returned to her door again. Opening the door, Mom asked him what he wanted this time. "Please lady," he said, "don't forget to water your lawn to-day so that the worms will come up to-night!"
Hearing about the little entrepreneur took me back to the days when I would seek out dew worms to sell so I'd have a few cents in my pocket and believe me, there sure is money to be made if you want to put in the time and late hours to do so.
Living on a side street, I was somewhat at a disadvantage to fellows who had their signs up on streets leading out of Lindsay where heavy traffic flowed. Finally I contacted a man by the name of Jack Baker who had a few cottages at Greenhurst and made a little deal with him. I'd supply him with worms at $1 per hundred and he in turn would make himself a tidy little profit by selling them to fishermen at Greenhurst for the large sum of 15 cents a dozen.
Later on Ken Griffin, who had a Cigar Shop on Kent Street, started selling for me out of his shop. Eventually the Lansfield brothers from Fenelon Falls started buying off me and the 'bucks' were rolling in.
Flashlight batteries were burning out rapidly cutting into the profits, so the only solution remaining to overcome this anomaly was to get some candles, cut them in about two-inch lengths and, holding a tobacco can on it's side, stick the candle just inside the opening and there it was, a perfect light with the rear of the can acting like a mirror and projecting the light onto the ground and dew worms.
Yes, even to-day there is money lying on the ground.
