In the heart of the captivating rolling fields, lived a shepherd boy. His existence was untarnished, simple, and honest. His main role was to look after his flock of ewes.
Their soft bleating and the murmuring of the breezes through the lone tree on the hilltop were his constant associates. Day in day, looking out for his responsibilities instilled in him a notion of calm satisfaction.
However, there were occasional moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would yearn for company. In one such instance from sheer boredom, the shepherd boy devised a naughty plan.
Stories of wild beasts prowling on sheep had long been circulating in the hamlet. So, the boy decided to used this fear and played a joke on the inhabitants.
One afternoon he dashed into the village shouting “Wolf! A wolf is preying on my sheep!” The frightened villagers rushed up the hills for rescue but found no beast.
The boy giggled at the confusion on their faces. This game laughed for a few more days. But, one day, a real wolf actually charge at the flock. The shepherd boy ran for aid screaming “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 sheep. Devastated, he went back to more info the village only to receive a scolding on honesty and the repercussions of dishonesty.
The tale of this shepherd boy has been transmitted generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the significance of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the risks of crying wolf. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once violated, is difficult to earn back. It's a story as pertinent today as it was anciently.