At the center of the mesmerizing rolling meadows, resided a young shepherd. His life was essentially pure, simple, and honest. His primary duty was to tend to his herd of ewes.
Their low murmuring and the murmuring of the wind across the lone tree on the hilltop were his constant companions. Day after day, guarding his wards inculcated in him a sense of calm satisfaction.
Yet, there were occasional moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would long for company. In one such instance from sheer monotony, the shepherd boy conceived a naughty scheme.
Tales of predators prowling on sheep had been around for a while in the hamlet. So, the boy decided to used this fear and played a prank on read more the villagers.
One day he raced into the village shouting “Wolf! A wolf is attacking my sheep!” The frightened villagers sprinted up the hills for rescue but found nothing threatening.
The boy giggled at the confusion on their faces. This prank persisted for a few days more. Yet, one morning, a real wolf did come to prey the flock. The shepherd boy raced for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one came.
Frustrated and alone, the boy fought against the wolf but managed to rescue only few of his sheep. Devastated, he returned to the village only to receive a scolding on honesty and the results of false alarms.
The tale 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 crying wolf. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once broken, is difficult to regain. It's a story as pertinent today as it was anciently.