Deep within the captivating rolling meadows, dwelt a young shepherd. His being was essentially untarnished, simple, and honest. His primary duty was to tend to his herd of sheep.
Their low murmuring and the whispering of the wind among the single tree on the hilltop were his constant associates. Day in day, watching over his responsibilities imbued in him a feeling of tranquil contentment.
Yet, there were the occasional moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would yearn for company. On one such day because of sheer tedium, the shepherd boy conceived a mischievous plan.
Tales of wolves hunting on sheep had been around for a while in the town. So, the boy chose to used this fear and played a prank on the townsfolk.
One morning he dashed into the village shouting “Wolf! A wolf is preying on my sheep!” The terrified villagers rushed up the hills to offer assistance but saw nothing threatening.
The boy chuckled at the confusion on their faces. This prank persisted for a few more days. Yet, one noon, a real wolf did charge at the grazing sheep. The shepherd boy raced for aid shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one showed up.
Frustrated and alone, the boy fought against the wolf but managed to rescue only few of his sheep. Heartbroken, he went back to the town only to receive a lesson on honesty and the repercussions of false alarms.
The story of this shepherd boy has click here been handed down generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the significance of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the dangers of false alarms. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once broken, is hard to regain. It's a story as appropriate today as it was then.