In the heart of the captivating rolling fields, lived a young shepherd. His existence was pure, simple yet virtuous. His only responsibility was to look after his flock of sheep.
Their gentle baas and the whispering of the breezes across the solo tree on the hilltop were his main companions. Day after day, watching over his wards inculcated in him a feeling of tranquil contentment.
However, there were occasional moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would long for companionship. In one such instance from sheer tedium, the shepherd boy orchestrated a naughty plot.
Tales of wild beasts prowling on sheep had been around for a while in the hamlet. So, the boy opted to used this fear and played a joke on the townsfolk.
One day he raced into the village shouting “Wolf! There is a wolf that has taken my sheep!” The frightened villagers sprinted up the hills to help but discovered no beast.
The boy laughed at the puzzle more info on their faces. This game continued for a few more days. But, one day, a real wolf actually come to prey the herd. The shepherd boy dashed for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.
Frustrated and alone, the boy struggled against the wolf but managed to protect only few of his flock. Devastated, he returned to the village only to be met with a scolding on honesty and the consequences of crying wolf.
The story of this shepherd boy has been handed down generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the importance of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the dangers of crying wolf. Moreover, it stresses how trust once lost, is difficult to regain. It's a story as pertinent today as it was in the past.