Deep within the enchanting rolling meadows, lived a young shepherd. His being was essentially pure, and unsophisticated. His main role was to tend to his flock of sheep.
Their gentle baas and the whispering of the breezes among the lone tree on the peak were his main associates. Day upon day, guarding his responsibilities instilled in him a sense of tranquil contentment.
But, there were occasional moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would pine for companionship. On one such day out of sheer boredom, the shepherd boy conceived a mischievous plan.
Stories of wild beasts preying on sheep had long been circulating in the town. So, the boy decided to exploit this fear and played a joke on the inhabitants.
One afternoon he dashed into the village screaming “Wolf! There is a wolf attacking my sheep!” The scared villagers rushed up the hills to offer assistance but saw nothing threatening.
The boy laughed at the dilemma on their faces. This game persisted for a couple of more days. However, one day, a real wolf actually come to prey the flock. The shepherd boy ran for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.
Frustrated and alone, the boy struggled against the wolf but managed to rescue only few of his flock. Devastated, he went back to the village only to receive a scolding on honesty and the results of dishonesty.
His tale of this shepherd boy has been handed down generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the importance of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the risks of false read more alarms. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once lost, is hard to earn back. It's a story as appropriate today as it was anciently.