Deep within the mesmerizing rolling fields, dwelt a young shepherd. His life was mostly pure, and unsophisticated. His only responsibility was to look after his flock of ewes.
Their soft bleating and the murmuring of the wind among the lone tree on the hilltop read more were his constant co-dwellers. Day in day, looking out for his responsibilities imbued in him a sense of quiet fulfillment.
Yet, there were at times moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would long for fellowship. In one such instance from sheer tedium, the shepherd boy orchestrated a naughty scheme.
Tales of wolves prowling on sheep had long been circulating in the hamlet. So, the boy decided to leveraged this fear and played a trick on the townsfolk.
One day he raced into the village shouting “Wolf! There is a wolf attacking my sheep!” The scared villagers rushed up the hills to help but saw no wolf.
The boy laughed at the confusion on their faces. This prank continued for a few days more. Yet, one day, a real wolf actually come to prey the flock. The shepherd boy raced for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one showed up.
Frustrated and alone, the boy battled against the wolf but could protect only few of his flock. Devastated, he returned to the village only to be met with a lesson on honesty and the repercussions of false alarms.
The tale of this shepherd boy has been handed 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 lost, is hard to regain. It's a story as relevant today as it was anciently.