Deep within the captivating rolling fields, lived a shepherd boy. His existence was essentially pure, simple yet virtuous. His primary duty was to look after his flock of ewes.
Their gentle baas and the murmuring of the wind through the single tree on the mountaintop were his constant companions. Day in day, watching over his charges imbued in him a sense of tranquil contentment.
However, there were occasional moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would long for companionship. On one such day out of click here sheer boredom, the shepherd boy conceived a naughty plot.
Stories of predators preying on sheep had been around for a while in the village. So, the boy opted to used this fear and played a joke on the villagers.
One day he raced into the village yelling “Wolf! A wolf is that has taken my sheep!” The terrified villagers rushed up the hills to offer assistance but found no beast.
The boy laughed at the puzzle on their faces. This game persisted for a few days more. But, one noon, a real wolf did come to prey 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 could protect only few of his sheep. Devastated, he went back to the town only to be met with a reprimand on honesty and the repercussions of dishonesty.
The story of this shepherd boy has been transmitted generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the importance of honesty, the consequences of lying and the risks of crying wolf. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once broken, is tough to regain. It's a story as relevant today as it was in the past.