The document describes the life of an old man from Aliano, Italy who had a talent for communicating with wolves. As a young man, he worked as a wolf-tamer, controlling packs of wolves and using his power over them to either send the wolves into or keep them away from villages. He was held in high esteem for this ability to protect villages from hungry wolves during harsh winters. Even in his old age, he maintained a presence that seemed to work with him and give him unusual strength. The document also provides details about gnomes, described as mischievous spirits of unbaptized children who play tricks but never seriously harm people. Gnomes are said to know the secrets of

2. THE WOLF-TAMER
Once there was a man from Aliano. He spoke with a strange voice and since he had
lived in different places he spoke various dialects . He was almost 90 and his face
gave an effect of timelessness . It was wrinkled like a dried-up apple and he had 2
piercing bright blue eyes.
He worked as a grave-digger and town vicar. At all hours of day he went through
the streets of the village blowing his horn and calling out the news of the day : the
arrival of a peddler , a new law proclaimed by the mayor , an hour set for a funeral .
Then it was he who carried the dead to the cemetary , dug the grave and buried
them . The old man had a secret talent : he was in touch with forces below the
earth , he could call up spirits, and he had a power over animals . His original
trade, before old age was that of wolf-tamer . He could either make the wolves
come down into the villages , or keep them away , as he wished ; they simply could
not resist him.
People said that when he was young he wandered over the mountains followed by
savage wolf-packs . This talent caused him to be held in high esteem , and when
the winter was severe , various villages called upon him to keep away the cold and
hungry woodland beasts.In his youth he could mow as much wheat in a day as fifty
men. At the end of day when the peasants were covered with dirt and sweat , their
backs aching from fatigue

3. and their heads buzzing from exposure to the sun , the wolf- tamer was fresh as he
had been in the morning . It seemed as if an invisible presence worked with him
and this presence was there throughout his life .

4. GNOMES
Gnomes are tiny creatures who know all the secrets of the earth . The
peasants believed that gnomes are the spirits or ghosts of children who
have died without bring baptised . Years ago it was common that the
peasants did not baptize their children for years after birth . It is believed
that the gnomes greatest delight is to tease people .
They tickle the feet of those who are sleepping , pull sheets off the beds ,
throw sand into people’s eyes , upset wine glasses , hide in draughts of air
so as blow papers about , and make wet clothes fall off the line into the dirt ,
pull chairs out from under women , hide things in out-of-the-way places ,
curdle milk , pinch, pull hair , buzz and sting like mosquitoes . But they are
innocent sprites , their mischief is never serious but always in the guise of a
joke ; however annoying they may be , they never cause serious harm .
They are mischievous and playful and it is almost impossible to catch them .
On their heads they wear a red hood that is bigger than they are and if it is
lost they weep and are quite disconsolate until they have found it .
The only way to avoid their tricks is to hold them by the hood and it you
can take it away from them , they will throw themselves at your feet in
tears and implore you to give it back .
Beneath their childish playfulness the gnomes are very wise ; they know
everything below the surface of the earth and , of course , the location of buried

5. treasure . In order to recover his red hood , which he cannot live without, a gnome
will promise to tell you where a treasure is hidden .
But you must not give him back his hood until he has led you to the
treasure because as long as you have his hood the gnome will serve you .
But if he has his hood he will run away , laughing and mocking . And will
not keep his promise to show you the treasure .