At the center of the enchanting rolling meadows, dwelt a boy named Shepherd. click here His existence was pure, simple, and honest. His only responsibility was to look after his flock of rams.
Their low murmuring and the whispering of the wind through the lone tree on the hilltop were his only co-dwellers. Day upon day, guarding his responsibilities imbued in him a notion of tranquil contentment.
Yet, there were the occasional moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would pine for companionship. In one such instance out of sheer monotony, the shepherd boy devised a troublesome plot.
Stories of predators preying on sheep had long been circulating in the hamlet. So, the boy decided to exploit this fear and played a prank on the townsfolk.
One afternoon he raced into the village yelling “Wolf! A wolf is preying on my sheep!” The frightened villagers ran up the hills to offer assistance but discovered no beast.
The boy giggled at the dilemma on their faces. This trick laughed for a few days more. However, one noon, a real wolf actually attack the flock. The shepherd boy dashed for aid screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one came.
Frustrated and alone, the boy battled against the wolf but could rescue only few of his flock. Heartbroken, he returned to the village only to be met with a scolding 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 importance of honesty, the consequences of lying and the risks of crying wolf. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once broken, is hard to regain. It's a story as pertinent today as it was then.