The Story of Andy Kjearsgaard
Kids didn't get an allowance in those tough times, so Arne and I were always looking for ways to earn pocket money.
Stealing Eggs
Every spring, we collected magpie and crow eggs. These birds were classified as pests, so the county would pay a penny (1 cent) for every egg delivered to the Dickson Store.
Every boy in the area scouted for nests on his way to and from school. Competition for eggs was intense and could be nasty. You crawled up the tree to the nest, took your cap off and placed each egg inside, one at a time. Then, since you needed both hands to climb down safely, you put the egg-filled cap back on your head. Carefully.
If all went well, you'd get most of the eggs, blow them out without breaking them and collect your bounty. But if a mean kid named Robert spotted you, he'd wait in ambush below your tree. When your foot touched the ground, he'd order you to hand over the eggs. Refuse and he'd smack the top of your head a couple of times. What a mess!
Gopher Tails
We also made a penny for every gopher tail turned in. You could trap the gophers or shoot them with a slingshot or 22-caliber rifle. Poisoning was less effective because the gophers would die in their burrows and couldn't be retrieved. The method didn't matter––the tails were the thing.
We had our own money. We were self-made men.
Adapted from the 1994 Heritage Book,with permission from the Federation of Danish Associations in Canada
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