Deep within click here the enchanting rolling meadows, resided a boy named Shepherd. His existence was mostly pure, simple yet virtuous. His primary duty was essentially to care for his flock of rams.
Their low murmuring and the rustling of the wind across the lone tree on the peak were his constant co-dwellers. Day in day, looking out for his charges inculcated in him a sense of quiet fulfillment.
But, there were at times moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would pine for company. In one such instance out of sheer boredom, the shepherd boy orchestrated a mischievous plan.
Tales of wild beasts preying on sheep had been around for a while in the hamlet. So, the boy decided to used this fear and played a trick on the townsfolk.
One afternoon he dashed into the village yelling “Wolf! There is a wolf that has taken my sheep!” The frightened villagers rushed up the hills to offer assistance but discovered no beast.
The boy laughed at the confusion on their faces. This game persisted for a couple of more days. But, one noon, a real wolf did come to prey the grazing sheep. The shepherd boy dashed for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one came.
Frustrated and alone, the boy struggled against the wolf but could protect only few of his flock. Heartbroken, he went back to the village only to receive a lesson on honesty and the consequences of dishonesty.
The tale of this shepherd boy has been passed down generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the importance of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the risks of false alarms. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once broken, is tough to reclaim. It's a story as pertinent today as it was in the past.