The Tale of the Shepherd Boy

Deep within the mesmerizing rolling hills, resided a young shepherd. His being was essentially unadulterated, simple yet virtuous. His only responsibility was mainly to look after his flock of ewes.

Their soft bleating and the murmuring of the wind through the single tree on the hilltop were his constant associates. Day after day, guarding his responsibilities instilled in him a sense of tranquil contentment.

But, there were the occasional moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would pine for companionship. On one such day out of sheer tedium, the shepherd boy orchestrated a naughty plan.

Narratives of predators prowling on sheep had been around for a while in the town. So, the boy decided to used this fear and played a trick on the inhabitants.

One morning he raced into the village yelling “Wolf! There is a wolf preying on my sheep!” The scared villagers ran up the hills to help but saw no wolf.

The boy laughed at the confusion on their faces. This prank persisted for a few days more. Yet, one noon, a real wolf did charge at the herd. The shepherd boy dashed for aid 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. Heartbroken, he went back to the village only to receive a lesson on honesty and the results of crying wolf.

His tale of this shepherd boy has been transmitted generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the value of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the dangers of false alarms. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once broken, is tough to regain. It's a story as appropriate today as it was in the website past.