Deep within the mesmerizing rolling meadows, dwelt a boy named Shepherd. His life was essentially pure, and unsophisticated. His primary duty was essentially to tend to his herd of sheep.
Their low murmuring and the murmuring of the wind through the solo tree on the peak were his only associates. Day after day, guarding his charges inculcated in him a feeling of quiet fulfillment.
But, there were at times moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would long for fellowship. In one such instance because of sheer tedium, the shepherd boy orchestrated a mischievous plan.
Tales of wolves preying on sheep had been heard times and again in the hamlet. So, the boy opted to exploit this fear and played a trick on the inhabitants.
One day he dashed into the village yelling “Wolf! A wolf is attacking my sheep!” The terrified villagers ran up the hills for rescue but found no beast.
The boy laughed at the puzzle on their faces. This game laughed for a few more days. However, one more info morning, a real wolf did come to prey the flock. The shepherd boy ran for aid shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one came.
Frustrated and alone, the boy struggled against the wolf but managed to protect only few of his sheep. Devastated, he returned to the town only to be met with a reprimand on honesty and the results of false alarms.
The tale of this shepherd boy has been handed down generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the importance of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the risks of false alarms. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once broken, is tough to earn back. It's a story as pertinent today as it was anciently.