In the heart of the enchanting rolling meadows, dwelt a young shepherd. His life was essentially pure, simple yet virtuous. His primary duty was essentially to tend to his herd of sheep.
Their low murmuring and the murmuring of the wind through the single tree on the peak were his only companions. Day after day, watching over his charges instilled in him a feeling of tranquil contentment.
However, there were occasional moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would pine for fellowship. In one such instance out of sheer monotony, the shepherd boy conceived a naughty plot.
Stories of wild beasts preying on sheep had been heard times and again in the town. So, the boy chose to exploit this fear and played a joke on the villagers.
One afternoon he ran into the village shouting “Wolf! A wolf is preying on my sheep!” The terrified villagers ran up the hills for rescue but discovered nothing threatening.
The boy laughed at the confusion on their faces. This trick laughed for a few days more. However, one noon, a real wolf did come to prey the flock. The shepherd boy dashed for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one came.
Frustrated and alone, the boy struggled against the wolf but could protect only few of his sheep. Devastated, he went back to the village only to receive a lesson on honesty and the results of crying wolf.
The story of this shepherd boy has been passed down generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching more info the importance of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the perils of crying wolf. Moreover, it highlights how trust once broken, is difficult to reclaim. It's a story as relevant today as it was then.