At the center of the enchanting rolling fields, dwelt a young shepherd. His life was essentially pure, simple, and honest. His primary duty was to care for his flock of sheep.
Their low murmuring and the whispering of the wind among the lone tree on the peak were his main companions. Day upon day, guarding his responsibilities instilled in him a feeling of calm satisfaction.
However, there were the occasional moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would pine for company. During one such occasion out of sheer monotony, the shepherd boy devised a mischievous scheme.
Narratives of wolves preying on here sheep had been around for a while in the village. So, the boy chose to used this fear and played a joke on the villagers.
One afternoon he dashed into the village screaming “Wolf! A wolf is preying on my sheep!” The scared villagers ran up the hills to offer assistance but saw nothing threatening.
The boy giggled at the puzzle on their faces. This trick continued for a few days more. Yet, one noon, a real wolf actually charge at the grazing sheep. The shepherd boy dashed for help, screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.
Frustrated and alone, the boy fought against the wolf but managed to rescue only few of his flock. Heartbroken, he went back to the village 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 significance of honesty, the consequences of lying and the dangers of crying wolf. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once violated, is tough to earn back. It's a story as appropriate today as it was in the past.