At the center of the mesmerizing rolling fields, dwelt a young shepherd. His existence was essentially untarnished, and unsophisticated. His only responsibility was essentially to tend to his flock of rams.
Their gentle baas and the rustling of the gales among the single tree on the hilltop were his constant associates. Day after day, looking out for his wards imbued in him a notion of tranquil contentment.
Yet, there were the occasional moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would yearn for fellowship. In one such instance from sheer tedium, the shepherd boy conceived a troublesome plan.
Narratives of predators preying on sheep had long been circulating in the hamlet. So, the boy chose to exploit this fear and played a trick on the villagers.
One day he ran into the village screaming “Wolf! A wolf is attacking my sheep!” The terrified villagers rushed up the hills to offer assistance but saw nothing threatening.
The boy chuckled at the confusion on their faces. This prank persisted for a few days more. But, one day, a real wolf actually attack the flock. The shepherd boy ran 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. Heartbroken, he went back to the village only to receive a reprimand on honesty and the results of crying wolf.
His tale of this shepherd read more boy has been handed down generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the value of honesty, the consequences of lying and the dangers of false alarms. Moreover, it highlights how trust once broken, is hard to reclaim. It's a story as pertinent today as it was anciently.