At the center of the captivating rolling hills, lived a shepherd boy. His being was essentially unadulterated, simple, and honest. His primary duty was to care for his herd of rams.
Their soft bleating and the murmuring of the gales through the lone tree on the mountaintop were his main associates. Day upon day, looking out for his charges instilled in him a sense of tranquil contentment.
However, there were at times moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would yearn for fellowship. In one such instance from sheer monotony, the shepherd boy orchestrated a naughty scheme.
Tales of predators preying on sheep had long been circulating in the town. So, the boy chose to read more exploit this fear and played a prank on the inhabitants.
One day he raced into the village yelling “Wolf! There is a wolf attacking my sheep!” The frightened villagers rushed up the hills to offer assistance but found no wolf.
The boy chuckled at the puzzle on their faces. This trick continued for a couple of more days. Yet, one noon, a real wolf did charge at the herd. The shepherd boy ran for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.
Frustrated and alone, the boy fought against the wolf but managed to protect only few of his flock. Heartbroken, he went back to the village only to receive a lesson on honesty and the consequences of dishonesty.
His tale of this shepherd boy has been transmitted generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the significance of honesty, the consequences of lying and the dangers of false alarms. Moreover, it stresses how trust once lost, is tough to regain. It's a story as appropriate today as it was then.