At the center of the enchanting rolling fields, dwelt a young shepherd. His life was mostly unadulterated, simple, and honest. His primary duty was to tend to his flock of ewes.
Their low murmuring and the murmuring of the The shepherd boy story gales among the single tree on the mountaintop were his main companions. Day upon day, watching over his responsibilities instilled in him a feeling of tranquil contentment.
But, there were occasional moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would yearn for companionship. On one such day out of sheer boredom, the shepherd boy orchestrated a troublesome scheme.
Narratives of predators prowling on sheep had been heard times and again in the town. So, the boy chose to exploit this fear and played a prank on the townsfolk.
One morning he dashed into the village yelling “Wolf! A wolf is attacking my sheep!” The terrified villagers sprinted up the hills for rescue but found nothing threatening.
The boy giggled at the puzzle on their faces. This game persisted for a few more days. But, one noon, a real wolf actually charge at the herd. The shepherd boy ran for aid shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.
Frustrated and alone, the boy struggled against the wolf but could protect only few of his flock. Devastated, he went back to the town only to receive a scolding on honesty and the consequences of dishonesty.
The tale of this shepherd boy has been passed down generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the importance of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the dangers of false alarms. Moreover, it highlights how trust once lost, is hard to regain. It's a story as appropriate today as it was in the past.