One day, a young boy appeared at one of the farms in Sténeghi and asked to be hired as a worker.
“I can do many things,” said the boy to the farmer.
“I can take care of the sheep, milk them, and heat the milk to make cheese, butter, and ricotta.”
“All right,” replied the farmer. “Stay here, and let’s see what you can do!”
He truly was a good boy — there was no denying it — and the people of the farm soon realized it.
Under his skilled hands, the sheep grew fat and heavy with wool, and every evening fine rounds of cheese, butter, and ricotta piled up in the farmhouse pantry.
“If you like,” said the boy one day to his master, “I can teach you how to make butter, cheese, and even ricotta!”
In a short time, the farmer became so skilled that they no longer knew where to store all the extra produce.
“Listen, master,” said the boy a while later, “wouldn’t you like to learn how to make wax from milk too?”
“No, no,” replied the man quickly, worried about the lack of space in the pantry and already overwhelmed with goods. “I already know how to do that myself!”
The boy knew that couldn’t be true, but he just shrugged and turned his thoughts elsewhere.
A few weeks later, the people of the farm decided to make a gift to their young worker. They bought him a fine red jacket.
As soon as the boy saw it, he shouted with joy:
“Red jacket on, never more I’ll live among the goats!”
And he ran away — the Salvanel — leaping happily and singing a strange little song.
From that day on, the farm quickly fell into ruin and was soon abandoned.
