Evening tales at the stable   That evening we were all together in the barn of the old Tobias. There were those who sat on wooden stools and those who were on the leaves just picked up in the forest of chestnut. Lying in the bedding, the cows were peacefully chewing hay. In the stable just illuminated by a dim light coming from an oil lamp, there were several people. There was Antonio said Tony invited because practical of cattle: in that evening a cow had given premonitory signs of an upcoming birth. Everybody relished the warm warmth emanating from cattle while outside there was a lot of snow and a biting cold of that January 1984, which seemed to never end. The two grandsons of Tobias and the sisters of Tony, flirted happily talking about the last exhibition of Sant’Andrea held in Morbegno. They talked about hats and material that they would have like to buy and also the big confusion and crowd that there was among the market stands. They were going down from Sacco to Morbegno on foot and reached the locality of Strence, the last stretch of road before the Bitto bridge, decided to wear shoes more comfortable and decent for the exhibition instead of wooden clogs. This happened in order to avoid to waste them on the way down that was full of holes and stones. At that moment there was a knock, all fell silent for a moment and from the door entered the Ameda Ghitt who greeted by saying "buonasira", followed by her husband, Barbatugn, who muttered a "veilà" of circumstance. They too found a place near the barn above the reversed “marinetta” (wood container to soak vegetables for cattle). The women told that passing near by the tavern "Ca’ l’Avaro”, a building still existing in the locality Morata, they heard the sound of a violin and watching from the grates had seen dancing figures. At this point, however, were interrupted by the Tugn that immediately said to be afraid that music brought disgraces, adding that dance is a sin and that temptation can lead young boys to not very reassuring encounters and to misfortune. I can tell you with absolute certainty about the time that my aunt Carlina, who died in '71, God rest his soul, during the festivities of the Assumption met a young man, richly dressed and of gentle manner that invited her touching her arm to dance with him. Carlina within herself wanted to refuse, but a stronger will convinced her to follow this fine young man, for no reason at all would have given up. They entered in the dancing room and Carlina, wrapped by the arms of such a fine gentleman, involved in fast laps of the dance, was not able to stop. But in the middle of the dance her gaze dropped to the floor: what she saw filled her with terror. At this young man richly dressed were sticking out hooked goat feet. At this sight she knew to be tempted by the devil and with great effort managed to utter a few requests to God. At this point Carlina managed to detach from her beautiful knight who disappearing in a cloud of fire, was leaving a strong smell of sulfur. She went home and made a vow that never again would agree to enter in a dancing room. This short story silenced the participants and in that moment they all thought about the outside darkness wondering on how many devils and witches were running around the barn. Trembled of fear thinking to the going back home. Soon the old Tobias answered, telling the story of his grandfather, who was a boyfriend of a certain Giacoma dei Russ, who lived in another country called Campione. One evening while he was walking on the road to visit her, he saw in a meadow a tame piglet. This filled him with joy, having at that time of year the need to breed one for wintertime. He untied the scarf from his neck and used it to tie the pig and dragging him near by the house of his girlfriend. Before entering, while he was about to untie it, the pig escaped him so quickly disappearing in the dark of night. With great regret knocked on the door of Giacoma, who let him go in and sit near by the fire. It was with the glow of flames that he saw his scarf around the neck of the girlfriend and, without any doubt, it was the same he had used to tie the pig. The shock was great and with an exuse asked to leave the house but as soon as he was out returned breathless to his country. He never went back there. Just then the cow with strong pushes gave the birth to a beautiful calf, with no complications at all and Tobias gave her as name Prestina (Quicky). All returned to their home happy and forgetful of tales about devils and witches.