In the heart of the captivating rolling hills, resided a young shepherd. His existence was mostly untarnished, simple yet virtuous. His only responsibility was to look after his flock of rams.
Their low murmuring and the rustling of the breezes through the lone tree on the peak were his constant associates. Day in day, watching over his responsibilities imbued in him a notion of calm satisfaction.
Yet, there were at times moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would yearn for company. In one such instance because of sheer monotony, the shepherd boy orchestrated a troublesome plan.
Tales of wild beasts hunting website on sheep had been heard times and again in the town. So, the boy decided to exploit this fear and played a trick on the townsfolk.
One afternoon he ran into the village shouting “Wolf! There is a wolf attacking my sheep!” The terrified villagers ran up the hills for rescue but found no wolf.
The boy giggled at the dilemma on their faces. This trick laughed for a few days more. Yet, one morning, a real wolf did attack the flock. The shepherd boy raced for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one showed up.
Frustrated and alone, the boy struggled against the wolf but could rescue only few of his sheep. Devastated, he went back to the town only to receive a lesson on honesty and the consequences of false alarms.
The story of this shepherd boy has been passed 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 difficult to regain. It's a story as relevant today as it was then.