In the heart of the captivating rolling fields, lived a young shepherd. His existence was pure, simple yet virtuous. His primary duty was essentially to tend to his flock of sheep.
Their soft bleating and the murmuring of the gales among the lone tree on the peak were his main companions. Day in day, looking out for his wards inculcated in him a notion of tranquil contentment.
But, there were at times moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would yearn for company. On one such day out of sheer monotony, the shepherd boy orchestrated a naughty scheme.
Tales of predators prowling on sheep had been around for more info a while in the village. So, the boy chose to used this fear and played a prank on the inhabitants.
One afternoon he dashed into the village screaming “Wolf! A wolf is attacking my sheep!” The terrified villagers ran up the hills for rescue but saw nothing threatening.
The boy laughed at the confusion on their faces. This prank continued for a few more days. Yet, one noon, a real wolf did attack the herd. The shepherd boy ran for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one came.
Frustrated and alone, the boy fought against the wolf but managed to rescue only few of his sheep. Devastated, he went back to the town only to be met with a scolding on honesty and the consequences of dishonesty.
His tale of this shepherd boy has been handed down generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the significance of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the risks of false alarms. Moreover, it highlights how trust once broken, is difficult to reclaim. It's a story as relevant today as it was then.