At the center of the enchanting rolling fields, lived a shepherd boy. His existence was mostly unadulterated, simple, and honest. His main role was to care for his flock of ewes.
Their soft bleating and the rustling of the breezes across the lone tree on the hilltop were his only companions. Day after day, watching over his wards imbued in him a notion of tranquil contentment.
However, there were the occasional moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would yearn for fellowship. In one such instance out of sheer monotony, the shepherd boy conceived a troublesome plan.
Stories of predators preying on sheep had been around for a while in the hamlet. So, the boy decided to used this fear and played a joke on the townsfolk.
One morning he raced into the village screaming “Wolf! A wolf is preying on my sheep!” The scared villagers rushed up the hills for rescue but discovered no beast.
The boy chuckled at the dilemma on their faces. This prank persisted for a couple of more days. However, one morning, a real wolf did charge at the herd. The shepherd boy ran for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one came.
Frustrated and alone, the boy fought against the wolf but could protect only few of his flock. Devastated, he returned to the town only to receive a scolding on honesty and the consequences of dishonesty.
His tale of this shepherd boy has been handed down generations as a mediaeval parable more info for teaching the value of honesty, the consequences of lying and the risks of crying wolf. Moreover, it highlights how trust once broken, is tough to earn back. It's a story as relevant today as it was in the past.