At the center of the enchanting rolling meadows, lived a young shepherd. His existence was untarnished, simple yet virtuous. His main role was to tend to his herd of rams.
Their soft bleating and the rustling of the gales among the solo tree on the mountaintop were his constant associates. Day upon day, guarding his charges instilled read more in him a sense of tranquil contentment.
However, there were occasional moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would yearn for companionship. On one such day from sheer tedium, the shepherd boy devised a naughty plan.
Stories of predators hunting on sheep had long been circulating in the village. So, the boy decided to used this fear and played a prank on the inhabitants.
One morning he ran into the village screaming “Wolf! There is a wolf preying on my sheep!” The frightened villagers rushed up the hills for rescue but found no beast.
The boy giggled at the dilemma on their faces. This game continued for a couple of more days. But, one day, a real wolf actually attack the flock. The shepherd boy ran for help, screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.
Frustrated and alone, the boy battled against the wolf but could protect only few of his sheep. Heartbroken, he went back to the town only to receive a scolding on honesty and the repercussions of dishonesty.
The story of this shepherd boy has been passed down generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the importance of honesty, the consequences of lying and the perils of false alarms. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once lost, is hard to reclaim. It's a story as relevant today as it was anciently.