At the center of the mesmerizing rolling meadows, dwelt a boy named Shepherd. His existence was mostly unadulterated, and unsophisticated. His only responsibility was essentially to look after his flock of ewes.
Their gentle baas and the whispering of the wind among the single tree on the hilltop were his constant companions. Day in day, looking out for his responsibilities imbued in him a notion of tranquil contentment.
But, there were occasional moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would yearn for companionship. During one such occasion out of sheer monotony, the shepherd boy orchestrated a naughty plot.
Tales of wolves hunting on sheep had been around for a while in the hamlet. So, the boy chose to leveraged this fear and played a trick on the inhabitants.
One afternoon he dashed into the here village yelling “Wolf! There is a wolf attacking my sheep!” The scared villagers rushed up the hills for rescue but saw nothing threatening.
The boy giggled at the puzzle on their faces. This trick continued for a few days more. But, one noon, a real wolf did charge at the flock. The shepherd boy dashed for help, screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one came.
Frustrated and alone, the boy battled against the wolf but managed to rescue only few of his flock. Devastated, he went back to the town only to receive a lesson on honesty and the results of crying wolf.
His 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 stresses how trust once broken, is tough to earn back. It's a story as appropriate today as it was anciently.