Deep within the mesmerizing rolling fields, resided a boy named Shepherd. His being was pure, simple, and honest. His main role was mainly to tend to his herd of ewes.
Their gentle baas and the whispering of the breezes through the single tree on the mountaintop were his constant companions. Day in day, looking out for his responsibilities inculcated in him a notion of click here tranquil contentment.
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 devised a troublesome plan.
Tales of wild beasts prowling on sheep had long been circulating in the village. So, the boy decided to used this fear and played a prank on the villagers.
One afternoon he raced into the village screaming “Wolf! A wolf is that has taken my sheep!” The scared villagers ran up the hills to offer assistance but saw no beast.
The boy chuckled at the confusion on their faces. This game laughed for a few days more. Yet, one day, a real wolf did come to prey the herd. The shepherd boy ran for aid shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.
Frustrated and alone, the boy struggled against the wolf but could protect only few of his flock. Devastated, he returned to the town only to receive a scolding on honesty and the repercussions of dishonesty.
The story of this shepherd boy has been transmitted generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the importance of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the risks of false alarms. Moreover, it highlights how trust once lost, is difficult to earn back. It's a story as pertinent today as it was then.