Deep within the captivating rolling hills, lived a young shepherd. His existence was essentially unadulterated, simple yet virtuous. His main role was mainly to look after his flock of ewes.
Their soft bleating and the murmuring of the gales through the single tree on the peak were his main co-dwellers. Day in day, looking out for his responsibilities instilled in him a notion of calm satisfaction.
But, there were at times moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would long for fellowship. In one such instance from sheer boredom, the shepherd boy orchestrated a mischievous plot.
Tales of wolves prowling on sheep had been heard times and again in the village. So, the boy decided to leveraged this fear and played a The shepherd boy story trick on the villagers.
One afternoon he raced into the village shouting “Wolf! There is a wolf that has taken my sheep!” The frightened villagers ran up the hills to offer assistance but discovered no beast.
The boy giggled at the confusion on their faces. This game laughed for a couple of more days. Yet, one noon, a real wolf did attack the herd. The shepherd boy ran for aid screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.
Frustrated and alone, the boy fought against the wolf but could rescue only few of his flock. Devastated, he went back to the village only to be met with a reprimand on honesty and the results of dishonesty.
His tale of this shepherd boy has been passed down generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the significance of honesty, the consequences of lying and the perils of crying wolf. Moreover, it stresses how trust once lost, is hard to earn back. It's a story as pertinent today as it was then.