Deep within the captivating rolling hills, dwelt a boy named Shepherd. His life was essentially unadulterated, and unsophisticated. His main role was mainly to look after his flock of sheep.
Their gentle baas and the whispering of the breezes across the single tree on the hilltop were his only co-dwellers. Day upon day, looking out for his wards inculcated in him a notion of calm satisfaction.
Yet, there were at times moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would long for companionship. On one check here such day from sheer monotony, the shepherd boy conceived a naughty plot.
Narratives of wild beasts hunting on sheep had been around for a while in the hamlet. So, the boy opted to leveraged this fear and played a prank on the villagers.
One afternoon he raced into the village screaming “Wolf! A wolf is preying on my sheep!” The scared villagers ran up the hills to offer assistance but saw no beast.
The boy chuckled at the dilemma on their faces. This game continued for a couple of more days. Yet, one morning, a real wolf did come to prey the flock. The shepherd boy raced for aid shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one showed up.
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 be met with a reprimand on honesty and the consequences of dishonesty.
The story of this shepherd boy has been passed down generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the value of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the risks of false alarms. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once broken, is hard to earn back. It's a story as appropriate today as it was anciently.