In the heart of the captivating rolling meadows, resided a shepherd boy. His life was essentially untarnished, simple yet virtuous. His primary duty was to care for his herd of rams.
Their soft bleating and the rustling of the wind across the single tree on the mountaintop were his constant associates. Day upon day, watching over his charges imbued in him a notion of quiet fulfillment.
But, there were occasional moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would long for company. In one such instance from sheer tedium, the shepherd boy orchestrated a troublesome scheme.
Tales of predators hunting on sheep had been around for a while in the hamlet. So, the boy chose to used this fear and played a trick on the townsfolk.
One morning he raced into the village yelling “Wolf! There is a wolf attacking my sheep!” The frightened villagers rushed up the hills for rescue but found no wolf.
The boy laughed at the dilemma on their faces. This prank laughed for a few more days. However, one day, a real wolf actually attack the flock. The shepherd boy dashed for aid screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one showed up.
Frustrated and alone, the boy fought against the wolf but could protect only few of his flock. Devastated, he went back to the village only to receive a reprimand on honesty and the repercussions of dishonesty.
The tale of this shepherd boy has been transmitted generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the value of honesty, the consequences of lying and the risks of false alarms. Moreover, it stresses how trust once broken, is hard to reclaim. It's a story as pertinent today click here as it was in the past.