Deep within the enchanting rolling fields, lived a boy named Shepherd. His being was essentially pure, simple, and honest. His main role was to look after his flock of ewes.
Their low murmuring and the whispering of the gales among the lone tree on the mountaintop were his constant associates. Day in day, watching over his wards instilled in him a sense of tranquil contentment.
However, there were the occasional moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would yearn for company. During one such occasion because of sheer boredom, the shepherd boy devised a naughty plan.
Narratives of wild beasts preying on sheep had long been circulating in the village. So, the boy chose to exploit this fear and played a prank on the townsfolk.
One morning he dashed into the village yelling “Wolf! A wolf is that has taken my sheep!” The terrified read more villagers sprinted up the hills to help but discovered nothing threatening.
The boy giggled at the confusion on their faces. This game persisted for a couple of more days. However, one noon, a real wolf actually charge at the herd. The shepherd boy ran for aid shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one showed up.
Frustrated and alone, the boy battled against the wolf but managed to rescue only few of his sheep. Devastated, he returned to the town only to be met with a scolding on honesty and the repercussions of false alarms.
The tale of this shepherd boy has been passed down generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the value of honesty, the consequences of lying and the dangers of false alarms. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once broken, is hard to regain. It's a story as appropriate today as it was then.