Deep within the mesmerizing rolling meadows, resided a shepherd boy. His being was mostly pure, simple yet virtuous. His only responsibility was to tend to his flock of rams.
Their gentle baas and the rustling of the breezes among the single tree on the mountaintop were his only associates. Day in day, watching over his responsibilities inculcated in him a notion of quiet fulfillment.
But, there were occasional moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would long for company. In one such instance because of sheer monotony, the shepherd boy conceived a mischievous plan.
Tales of wild beasts preying on sheep had long been circulating in the hamlet. So, the boy opted to exploit this fear and played a joke on the inhabitants.
One morning he dashed into the village screaming “Wolf! A wolf is that has taken my sheep!” The frightened villagers sprinted up the hills for rescue but found no beast.
The boy laughed at the dilemma on their faces. This prank continued for a few more days. Yet, one morning, a real wolf actually attack the herd. The shepherd boy raced for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one came.
Frustrated and alone, the boy battled against the wolf but could protect only few of his sheep. Devastated, he went check here back to the town only to be met with a lesson on honesty and the results of false alarms.
The tale of this shepherd boy has been passed down generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the importance of honesty, the consequences of lying and the risks of false alarms. Moreover, it highlights how trust once violated, is hard to earn back. It's a story as relevant today as it was anciently.