Deep within the enchanting rolling meadows, dwelt a boy named Shepherd. His existence was mostly unadulterated, simple yet virtuous. His primary duty was essentially to care for his herd of rams.
Their gentle baas and the murmuring of the breezes across the lone tree on the hilltop were his constant companions. Day upon day, looking out for his charges imbued in him a feeling of quiet fulfillment.
But, there were occasional moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would pine for companionship. During read more one such occasion out of sheer tedium, the shepherd boy devised a mischievous plot.
Stories of wolves prowling on sheep had long been circulating in the hamlet. So, the boy decided to used this fear and played a joke on the inhabitants.
One afternoon he dashed into the village screaming “Wolf! There is a wolf preying on my sheep!” The terrified villagers rushed up the hills to help but discovered no beast.
The boy laughed at the puzzle on their faces. This prank persisted for a few days more. But, one day, a real wolf actually charge at the grazing sheep. The shepherd boy raced for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one showed up.
Frustrated and alone, the boy struggled against the wolf but managed to rescue only few of his flock. Heartbroken, he returned to the town only to receive a reprimand on honesty and the repercussions of dishonesty.
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 risks of false alarms. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once broken, is hard to earn back. It's a story as appropriate today as it was in the past.