In the heart of the enchanting rolling meadows, lived a shepherd boy. His existence was essentially untarnished, simple yet virtuous. His only responsibility was mainly to look after his herd of ewes.
Their low murmuring and the rustling of the wind across the lone tree on the hilltop were his main associates. Day after day, watching over his responsibilities instilled in him a feeling of quiet fulfillment.
But, there were at times moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would pine for fellowship. On one such day from sheer boredom, the shepherd boy devised a naughty plan.
Stories of wild beasts hunting on sheep had long been circulating in the village. So, the boy opted to exploit this fear and played a joke on the villagers.
One morning he dashed into the village check here yelling “Wolf! A wolf is attacking my sheep!” The frightened villagers ran up the hills to help but saw nothing threatening.
The boy laughed at the dilemma on their faces. This prank persisted for a few days more. Yet, one day, a real wolf actually charge at the flock. The shepherd boy ran for help, screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one showed up.
Frustrated and alone, the boy battled against the wolf but managed to rescue only few of his sheep. Heartbroken, he returned to the village only to receive a lesson on honesty and the results of dishonesty.
The story of this shepherd boy has been handed down generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the significance of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the risks of false alarms. Moreover, it highlights how trust once broken, is hard to reclaim. It's a story as relevant today as it was then.