Deep within the mesmerizing rolling fields, resided a boy named Shepherd. His existence was essentially pure, simple, and honest. His primary duty was to care for his flock of rams.
Their low murmuring and the murmuring of the wind among the lone tree on the mountaintop were his only companions. Day after day, guarding his responsibilities inculcated in him a notion of quiet fulfillment.
But, there were the occasional moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would pine for fellowship. In one such instance out of sheer monotony, the shepherd boy conceived a troublesome plot.
Tales of predators preying on sheep had long been circulating in the town. So, the boy decided to leveraged this fear and played a prank on the inhabitants.
One day he ran into the village shouting “Wolf! There is a wolf attacking my sheep!” The terrified villagers sprinted up the hills to offer assistance but saw no wolf.
The boy laughed at the dilemma on their faces. This game continued for a few more days. However, one morning, a real wolf did come to prey the flock. The shepherd boy dashed for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one showed up.
Frustrated and alone, the boy battled against the wolf but managed read more to rescue only few of his flock. Devastated, he returned to the town only to be met with a lesson on honesty and the repercussions of false alarms.
The tale of this shepherd boy has been passed down generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the importance of honesty, the consequences of lying and the dangers of false alarms. Moreover, it stresses how trust once broken, is tough to regain. It's a story as appropriate today as it was in the past.