At the center of the captivating rolling hills, resided a young shepherd. His existence was unadulterated, simple yet virtuous. His main role was to look after his flock of sheep.
Their low murmuring and the rustling of the wind among the single tree on the peak were his main associates. Day upon day, watching over his charges inculcated in him a sense of quiet fulfillment.
However, there were occasional moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would yearn for fellowship. During one such occasion from sheer monotony, the shepherd boy devised a troublesome plan.
Narratives of wolves hunting on sheep had been around for a here while in the town. So, the boy decided to used this fear and played a trick on the villagers.
One day he dashed into the village yelling “Wolf! A wolf is preying on my sheep!” The scared villagers sprinted up the hills to offer assistance but found no beast.
The boy giggled at the confusion on their faces. This game laughed for a few more days. However, one noon, a real wolf actually charge at the flock. The shepherd boy ran for help, screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one came.
Frustrated and alone, the boy fought against the wolf but could rescue only few of his flock. Heartbroken, he went back to the village only to receive a scolding on honesty and the results of false alarms.
The story of this shepherd boy has been transmitted generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the significance of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the risks of false alarms. Moreover, it highlights how trust once violated, is tough to earn back. It's a story as appropriate today as it was in the past.