In the heart of the captivating rolling hills, lived a young shepherd. His being was mostly unadulterated, simple yet virtuous. His only responsibility was essentially to care for his flock of ewes.
Their gentle baas and the whispering of the gales through the lone tree on the mountaintop were his only companions. Day in day, watching over his wards instilled in him a notion of tranquil contentment.
Yet, there were at times moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would long for company. In one such instance out of sheer monotony, the shepherd boy orchestrated a mischievous scheme.
Stories of wolves prowling on sheep had been heard times and again in the town. So, the boy decided to used this fear and played a joke on the villagers.
One morning he ran into the village screaming “Wolf! A wolf is attacking my sheep!” The scared villagers ran up the hills to offer assistance but saw no beast.
The boy laughed at the confusion on their faces. This game continued for a few more days. Yet, one day, a real wolf actually attack the herd. The shepherd boy dashed for aid shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one came.
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 be met with a reprimand on honesty and the consequences of false alarms.
The tale of this shepherd boy has been passed down generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the significance of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the perils of crying wolf. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once broken, is tough to earn back. It's a story as relevant today as it read more was then.