In the heart of the captivating rolling meadows, resided a boy named Shepherd. His being was essentially pure, simple yet virtuous. His only responsibility was mainly to tend to his herd of sheep.
Their low murmuring and the murmuring of the gales among the lone tree on the hilltop were his constant associates. Day after day, watching over his wards instilled in him a notion of tranquil contentment.
Yet, there were occasional moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would yearn for fellowship. On one such day from sheer monotony, the shepherd boy devised a mischievous scheme.
Narratives of wild beasts preying on sheep had been heard times and again in the village. So, the boy chose to exploit this fear and played a joke on the townsfolk.
One morning he dashed into the village yelling “Wolf! There is a wolf that has taken my sheep!” The frightened villagers ran up the hills to offer assistance but found no beast.
The boy laughed at the confusion on their faces. This trick laughed for a couple of more days. Yet, one noon, a real wolf did charge at the flock. The shepherd boy dashed for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, read more no one responded.
Frustrated and alone, the boy battled against the wolf but could protect only few of his flock. Devastated, he went back to the village only to receive a scolding on honesty and the consequences of crying wolf.
His tale of this shepherd boy has been passed down generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the importance of honesty, the consequences of lying and the dangers of crying wolf. Moreover, it highlights how trust once lost, is hard to earn back. It's a story as appropriate today as it was anciently.