At the center of the enchanting rolling fields, resided a young shepherd. His being was essentially unadulterated, and unsophisticated. His only responsibility was essentially to care for his flock of sheep.
Their low murmuring and the whispering of the wind among the single tree on the mountaintop were his main associates. Day upon day, guarding his charges imbued in him a notion of quiet fulfillment.
Yet, there were occasional moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would yearn for companionship. In one such instance because of sheer boredom, the shepherd boy orchestrated a troublesome scheme.
Tales of wild beasts hunting on sheep had been around for a read more while in the town. So, the boy opted to leveraged this fear and played a prank on the inhabitants.
One afternoon he raced into the village yelling “Wolf! A wolf is attacking my sheep!” The terrified villagers ran up the hills to offer assistance but saw nothing threatening.
The boy giggled at the confusion on their faces. This prank persisted for a few more days. But, one noon, a real wolf did come to prey the flock. The shepherd boy dashed for aid screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.
Frustrated and alone, the boy fought against the wolf but could rescue only few of his sheep. Heartbroken, he returned to the village only to receive a reprimand on honesty and the repercussions of crying wolf.
The story of this shepherd boy has been passed down generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the value of honesty, the consequences of lying and the dangers of false alarms. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once violated, is difficult to earn back. It's a story as pertinent today as it was anciently.