Deep within the enchanting rolling fields, resided a young shepherd. His life was essentially untarnished, simple, and here honest. His main role was mainly to care for his flock of ewes.
Their low murmuring and the murmuring of the breezes across the single tree on the hilltop were his constant companions. Day in day, looking out for his wards imbued in him a notion of quiet fulfillment.
Yet, there were occasional moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would yearn for companionship. On one such day from sheer boredom, the shepherd boy orchestrated a naughty plan.
Stories of wild beasts hunting on sheep had been heard times and again in the town. So, the boy decided to exploit this fear and played a trick on the inhabitants.
One morning he raced into the village screaming “Wolf! A wolf is attacking my sheep!” The terrified villagers sprinted up the hills for rescue but saw no beast.
The boy laughed at the confusion on their faces. This game continued for a few days more. Yet, one morning, a real wolf actually attack the grazing sheep. The shepherd boy ran for help, screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one showed up.
Frustrated and alone, the boy fought against the wolf but managed to rescue only few of his flock. Heartbroken, he returned to the town only to be met with a reprimand on honesty and the consequences of false alarms.
The tale of this shepherd boy has been handed down generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the significance of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the risks of false alarms. Moreover, it stresses how trust once broken, is difficult to regain. It's a story as relevant today as it was anciently.