In the heart of the enchanting rolling meadows, lived a shepherd boy. His existence was mostly unadulterated, simple yet virtuous. His only responsibility was mainly to tend to his flock of ewes.
Their soft bleating and the rustling of the breezes across the lone tree on the peak were his only companions. Day after day, looking out for his charges instilled in him a notion of calm satisfaction.
But, there were at times moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would pine for companionship. On one such day from sheer boredom, the The shepherd boy story shepherd boy orchestrated a mischievous plan.
Stories of wolves prowling on sheep had long been circulating in the village. So, the boy decided to used this fear and played a trick on the townsfolk.
One morning he ran into the village yelling “Wolf! There is a wolf that has taken my sheep!” The scared villagers sprinted up the hills to help but found nothing threatening.
The boy chuckled at the puzzle on their faces. This prank continued for a couple of more days. However, one noon, a real wolf actually charge at the grazing sheep. The shepherd boy dashed for aid screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.
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 consequences of false alarms.
His tale of this shepherd boy has been transmitted generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the value of honesty, the consequences of lying and the risks of crying wolf. Moreover, it highlights how trust once broken, is hard to reclaim. It's a story as appropriate today as it was anciently.