Deep within the mesmerizing rolling meadows, resided a young shepherd. His existence was mostly unadulterated, simple yet virtuous. His primary duty was mainly to look after his flock of ewes.
Their soft bleating check here and the rustling of the wind among the single tree on the hilltop were his main associates. Day upon day, guarding his charges imbued in him a feeling of tranquil contentment.
Yet, there were at times moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would long for companionship. During one such occasion from sheer tedium, the shepherd boy conceived a mischievous plot.
Tales of predators prowling on sheep had been around for a while in the town. So, the boy opted to used this fear and played a trick on the villagers.
One afternoon he raced into the village yelling “Wolf! There is a wolf preying on my sheep!” The terrified villagers rushed up the hills to help but found no beast.
The boy laughed at the puzzle on their faces. This trick persisted for a few more days. However, one morning, a real wolf did charge at the grazing sheep. The shepherd boy raced for aid screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one came.
Frustrated and alone, the boy battled against the wolf but managed to protect only few of his sheep. Heartbroken, he returned to the town only to be met with a scolding on honesty and the consequences of dishonesty.
The tale of this shepherd boy has been transmitted generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the value of honesty, the consequences of lying and the risks of crying wolf. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once violated, is hard to reclaim. It's a story as relevant today as it was anciently.