The Story of the Shepherd Boy

At the center of the enchanting rolling fields, dwelt a shepherd boy. His being was mostly pure, simple, and honest. His main role was to look after his herd of rams.

Their low murmuring and the whispering of the wind among the lone tree on the mountaintop were his only co-dwellers. Day upon day, looking out for here his charges imbued in him a notion of quiet fulfillment.

Yet, there were at times moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would long for fellowship. On one such day out of sheer monotony, the shepherd boy devised a troublesome plan.

Narratives of wild beasts prowling on sheep had been around for a while in the village. So, the boy chose to exploit this fear and played a trick on the villagers.

One day he raced into the village yelling “Wolf! A wolf is attacking my sheep!” The terrified villagers sprinted up the hills to offer assistance but discovered no wolf.

The boy laughed at the dilemma on their faces. This prank laughed for a few more days. However, one day, a real wolf did come to prey the herd. The shepherd boy dashed for aid screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.

Frustrated and alone, the boy fought against the wolf but could protect only few of his flock. Heartbroken, he returned to the village only to be met with a scolding on honesty and the results of dishonesty.

The tale of this shepherd boy has been passed down generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the importance of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the perils of false alarms. Moreover, it highlights how trust once lost, is difficult to reclaim. It's a story as relevant today as it was in the past.