At the center of the mesmerizing rolling fields, dwelt a shepherd boy. His being was essentially pure, simple yet virtuous. His only responsibility was mainly to care for his flock of ewes.
Their gentle baas and the rustling of the wind among the single tree on the hilltop were his constant associates. Day upon day, looking out for his wards inculcated in him a sense of quiet fulfillment.
But, there were the occasional moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would long for companionship. During one such occasion from sheer monotony, the shepherd boy orchestrated a naughty scheme.
Stories of wolves hunting on sheep had long been circulating in the town. So, the boy opted to leveraged this fear and played a prank on the villagers.
One morning he ran into the village shouting “Wolf! A wolf is that has taken my sheep!” The terrified villagers sprinted up the hills for rescue but discovered no beast.
The boy laughed at the confusion on their faces. This trick persisted for a read more few days more. However, one morning, a real wolf actually charge at the grazing sheep. The shepherd boy raced for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one came.
Frustrated and alone, the boy battled against the wolf but managed to rescue only few of his flock. Devastated, he went back to the village only to receive a lesson on honesty and the consequences of false alarms.
The tale of this shepherd boy has been transmitted generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the value of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the perils of false alarms. Moreover, it stresses how trust once lost, is difficult to earn back. It's a story as relevant today as it was in the past.