In the heart of the mesmerizing rolling hills, dwelt a young shepherd. His existence was essentially unadulterated, and unsophisticated. His primary duty was to care for his flock of rams.
Their low murmuring and the rustling of the breezes among the single tree on the mountaintop were his constant companions. Day after day, watching over his wards instilled in him a notion of quiet fulfillment.
Yet, there were the occasional moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would long for company. In one such instance out of sheer boredom, the shepherd boy devised a troublesome plan.
Narratives of predators hunting on sheep had been heard times and again in the village. So, the boy opted to used this fear and played a prank on the inhabitants.
One morning he raced into the village yelling “Wolf! A wolf is that has taken my sheep!” The frightened villagers ran up the hills to offer assistance but saw no beast.
The boy laughed at the dilemma on their faces. This trick continued for a few days more. Yet, one noon, a real wolf did attack the grazing sheep. The shepherd boy raced for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.
Frustrated and alone, the boy battled against the wolf but managed to protect only few of his flock. Devastated, he went back to the more info town only to receive a lesson on honesty and the results of dishonesty.
His 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 risks of false alarms. Moreover, it stresses how trust once violated, is difficult to earn back. It's a story as pertinent today as it was anciently.