Deep within the enchanting website rolling meadows, dwelt a shepherd boy. His life was essentially pure, and unsophisticated. His primary duty was essentially to care for his herd of rams.
Their low murmuring and the rustling of the wind through the single tree on the mountaintop were his only co-dwellers. Day in day, guarding his wards inculcated in him a notion of calm satisfaction.
Yet, there were at times moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would pine for company. In one such instance out of sheer monotony, the shepherd boy conceived a troublesome scheme.
Narratives of wolves hunting on sheep had been heard times and again in the town. So, the boy chose to leveraged this fear and played a prank on the villagers.
One day he dashed into the village screaming “Wolf! There is a wolf attacking my sheep!” The terrified villagers rushed up the hills to offer assistance but found no beast.
The boy laughed at the puzzle on their faces. This trick persisted for a few days more. Yet, one day, a real wolf did attack the herd. The shepherd boy raced for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one came.
Frustrated and alone, the boy fought against the wolf but could protect only few of his flock. Heartbroken, he returned to the town only to be met with a scolding on honesty and the repercussions of dishonesty.
The tale of this shepherd boy has been passed down generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the significance of honesty, the consequences of lying and the dangers of crying wolf. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once lost, is difficult to earn back. It's a story as relevant today as it was anciently.