Deep within the enchanting rolling meadows, resided a shepherd boy. His existence was essentially untarnished, and unsophisticated. His only responsibility was to look after his herd of rams.
Their soft bleating and the murmuring of the wind through the lone tree on the peak were his main associates. Day after day, guarding his responsibilities imbued in him a sense of tranquil contentment.
But, there were at times moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would pine for company. During website one such occasion from sheer monotony, the shepherd boy orchestrated a mischievous plan.
Stories of predators prowling on sheep had been around for a while in the town. So, the boy chose to exploit this fear and played a trick on the villagers.
One day he dashed into the village yelling “Wolf! A wolf is preying on my sheep!” The scared villagers sprinted up the hills to offer assistance but discovered no beast.
The boy giggled at the dilemma on their faces. This prank laughed for a couple of more days. Yet, one day, a real wolf did attack the grazing sheep. The shepherd boy ran for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one showed up.
Frustrated and alone, the boy battled against the wolf but could rescue only few of his flock. Heartbroken, he returned to the town only to receive a reprimand on honesty and the results of crying wolf.
The story of this shepherd boy has been handed down generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the value of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the dangers of false alarms. Moreover, it highlights how trust once lost, is hard to earn back. It's a story as pertinent today as it was then.