At the center of the enchanting rolling fields, dwelt a young shepherd. His existence was untarnished, simple yet virtuous. His main role was essentially to tend read more to his herd of sheep.
Their gentle baas and the whispering of the wind among the single tree on the hilltop were his main co-dwellers. Day after day, looking out for his charges imbued in him a feeling of quiet fulfillment.
But, there were at times moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would pine for fellowship. On one such day out of sheer tedium, the shepherd boy orchestrated a naughty scheme.
Tales of predators prowling on sheep had long been circulating in the village. So, the boy chose to used this fear and played a prank on the townsfolk.
One afternoon he dashed into the village yelling “Wolf! There is a wolf attacking my sheep!” The scared villagers sprinted up the hills to offer assistance but found nothing threatening.
The boy laughed at the dilemma on their faces. This game persisted for a couple of more days. However, one morning, a real wolf actually come to prey the flock. The shepherd boy dashed for aid shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one showed up.
Frustrated and alone, the boy battled against the wolf but could rescue only few of his flock. Devastated, he went back to the town only to receive a scolding on honesty and the repercussions of dishonesty.
The story of this shepherd boy has been handed down generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the value of honesty, the consequences of lying and the perils of crying wolf. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once lost, is tough to earn back. It's a story as pertinent today as it was anciently.