Deep within the captivating rolling fields, dwelt a shepherd boy. His existence was pure, simple yet virtuous. His only responsibility was to look after his herd of ewes.
Their soft bleating and the murmuring of the gales among the solo tree on the hilltop were his only co-dwellers. Day after day, watching over his responsibilities instilled in him a feeling of calm satisfaction.
But, there were the occasional moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would yearn for company. In one such instance because of sheer tedium, the shepherd boy conceived a troublesome scheme.
Tales of wolves hunting on sheep had been around for a while in the hamlet. So, the boy chose to used this fear and played a prank on the inhabitants.
One day he dashed into the village screaming “Wolf! A wolf is that has taken my sheep!” The frightened villagers ran up the hills to help but saw nothing threatening.
The boy chuckled at the confusion on their faces. This game laughed for a few more days. However, one morning, a real wolf actually attack the herd. The shepherd boy raced for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one showed up.
Frustrated and alone, the boy fought website against the wolf but managed to rescue only few of his sheep. Heartbroken, he returned to the village only to receive a scolding on honesty and the repercussions of false alarms.
His tale of this shepherd boy has been transmitted generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the importance of honesty, the consequences of lying and the risks of false alarms. Moreover, it stresses how trust once violated, is tough to reclaim. It's a story as relevant today as it was then.