In the heart of the captivating rolling hills, dwelt a young shepherd. His being was unadulterated, simple yet virtuous. His main role was essentially to tend to his herd of rams.
Their gentle baas and the murmuring of the gales among the lone tree on the hilltop were his constant co-dwellers. Day in day, guarding his responsibilities inculcated in him a sense of calm satisfaction.
But, there were occasional moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would pine for companionship. During one such occasion out of sheer monotony, the shepherd boy conceived a troublesome scheme.
Narratives of wolves preying on sheep had been around for a while in the village. So, the boy opted to exploit this fear and played a trick on the inhabitants.
One morning he raced into the village screaming “Wolf! There is a wolf preying on my sheep!” The frightened villagers sprinted up the hills for rescue but saw nothing threatening.
The boy chuckled at the dilemma on their faces. This prank continued for a couple of more days. But, one noon, a real wolf actually charge at the flock. The shepherd boy raced for aid shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.
Frustrated and alone, the boy fought against the wolf but could protect only few of his flock. click here Devastated, he returned to the town only to receive a lesson on honesty and the results of crying wolf.
The story of this shepherd boy has been handed down generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the value of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the perils of false alarms. Moreover, it highlights how trust once lost, is tough to reclaim. It's a story as pertinent today as it was anciently.