Deep within the captivating rolling hills, dwelt a shepherd boy. His life was unadulterated, simple, and honest. His only responsibility was mainly to look after his flock of rams.
Their soft bleating and the murmuring of the gales across the lone tree on the mountaintop were his main associates. Day in day, looking out for his charges instilled in him a feeling of calm satisfaction.
However, there were at times moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would yearn for company. On one such day from sheer boredom, the shepherd boy devised a naughty plot.
Tales of wild beasts preying on sheep had been around for a while in the village. So, the boy decided to used this fear and played a trick on the inhabitants.
One morning he ran into the village screaming “Wolf! A wolf is attacking my sheep!” The frightened villagers sprinted up the hills for rescue but saw nothing threatening.
The boy giggled at the dilemma click here on their faces. This trick persisted for a few days more. However, one day, a real wolf did attack the flock. The shepherd boy dashed for aid screaming “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 flock. Heartbroken, he went back to the village only to be met with a lesson on honesty and the consequences of dishonesty.
The story of this shepherd boy has been transmitted generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the value of honesty, the consequences of lying and the dangers of false alarms. Moreover, it highlights how trust once violated, is hard to earn back. It's a story as relevant today as it was then.