Deep within the mesmerizing rolling fields, lived a young shepherd. His being was essentially untarnished, and unsophisticated. His main role was mainly to care for his herd of ewes.
Their low murmuring and the murmuring of the breezes across the single tree on the peak were his only associates. Day after day, guarding his responsibilities instilled in him a feeling of tranquil contentment.
But, there were at times moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would long for fellowship. On one such day from sheer boredom, the shepherd boy conceived a naughty plot.
Tales of wolves preying on sheep had long been circulating in the hamlet. So, the boy chose to exploit this fear and played a prank on the villagers.
One morning he raced into the village yelling “Wolf! There is a wolf attacking my sheep!” The scared villagers rushed up the hills to offer assistance but discovered more info no beast.
The boy giggled at the confusion on their faces. This trick laughed for a couple of more days. However, one noon, a real wolf actually come to prey the flock. The shepherd boy raced for help, screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.
Frustrated and alone, the boy struggled against the wolf but managed to rescue only few of his flock. Devastated, he went back to the village only to receive a scolding on honesty and the results of crying wolf.
The tale 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 dangers of crying wolf. Moreover, it highlights how trust once violated, is tough to earn back. It's a story as relevant today as it was then.