Deep within the enchanting rolling hills, resided a young shepherd. His life was mostly unadulterated, and unsophisticated. His primary duty was to tend to his flock of rams.
Their gentle baas and the whispering of the gales among the solo tree on the mountaintop were his only associates. Day upon day, looking out for his wards inculcated in him a sense of quiet fulfillment.
Yet, there were at times moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would long for companionship. On one such day because of sheer tedium, the shepherd boy conceived a troublesome plan.
Stories of predators preying on sheep had been around for a while in the town. So, the boy decided to used this fear and played a joke on the townsfolk.
One morning he ran into the village yelling “Wolf! A wolf is preying on my sheep!” The frightened villagers rushed up the hills to offer assistance but found no wolf.
The boy giggled at the dilemma on their faces. This game laughed for a couple of more days. Yet, one noon, a real wolf did come to prey the herd. 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. Devastated, he went back to the village only to receive website 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 for teaching the importance of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the dangers of false alarms. Moreover, it stresses how trust once broken, is tough to regain. It's a story as pertinent today as it was then.