Deep within the captivating rolling hills, dwelt a boy named Shepherd. His existence was mostly untarnished, and unsophisticated. His main role was to tend to his herd of rams.
Their gentle baas and the whispering of the gales through the single check here tree on the peak were his constant associates. Day in day, looking out for his wards inculcated in him a notion of tranquil contentment.
But, there were at times moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would long for fellowship. In one such instance because of sheer boredom, the shepherd boy conceived a troublesome scheme.
Tales of wolves hunting on sheep had been heard times and again in the town. So, the boy opted to exploit this fear and played a joke on the villagers.
One day he dashed into the village shouting “Wolf! There is a wolf attacking my sheep!” The scared villagers ran up the hills to help but saw nothing threatening.
The boy chuckled at the puzzle on their faces. This trick continued for a few days more. However, one morning, a real wolf actually attack the grazing sheep. The shepherd boy ran for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.
Frustrated and alone, the boy battled against the wolf but could rescue only few of his sheep. Devastated, he returned to the village only to be met with a scolding on honesty and the results of dishonesty.
His tale of this shepherd boy has been handed down generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the importance of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the risks of crying wolf. Moreover, it highlights how trust once broken, is tough to earn back. It's a story as appropriate today as it was in the past.