Deep within the captivating rolling fields, lived a shepherd boy. His existence was essentially untarnished, simple yet virtuous. His only responsibility was essentially to care for his flock of rams.
Their soft bleating and the murmuring of the breezes across the solo tree on the hilltop were his constant companions. Day upon day, watching over his responsibilities imbued in him a notion of tranquil contentment.
But, there were occasional moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would yearn for company. During one such occasion from sheer monotony, the shepherd boy devised a troublesome plan.
Narratives of wild beasts prowling on sheep had long been circulating in the hamlet. So, the boy decided to used this fear and played a joke on the townsfolk.
One afternoon he dashed into the village shouting “Wolf! There is a wolf attacking my sheep!” The terrified villagers rushed up the hills for rescue but found nothing threatening.
The boy chuckled at the puzzle on their faces. This trick continued for a couple of more days. Yet, one day, a real wolf did come to prey the flock. The shepherd boy ran for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one showed up.
Frustrated and alone, the boy fought against the wolf but managed to protect only few of his flock. Heartbroken, he went back to the town only to receive a reprimand on honesty and get more info the consequences of crying wolf.
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 risks of false alarms. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once lost, is hard to earn back. It's a story as appropriate today as it was then.