The Story of the Shepherd Boy

In the heart of the enchanting rolling fields, dwelt a shepherd boy. His being was mostly pure, and unsophisticated. His primary duty was essentially to look here after his flock of sheep.

Their gentle baas and the rustling of the wind across the lone tree on the mountaintop were his constant companions. Day upon day, looking out for his responsibilities inculcated in him a sense of calm satisfaction.

Yet, there were at times moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would long for companionship. On one such day from sheer monotony, the shepherd boy conceived a mischievous plan.

Narratives of wild beasts prowling on sheep had long been circulating in the hamlet. So, the boy chose to exploit this fear and played a joke on the townsfolk.

One day he raced into the village yelling “Wolf! A wolf is preying on my sheep!” The frightened villagers ran up the hills for rescue but found nothing threatening.

The boy giggled at the dilemma on their faces. This game laughed for a couple of more days. Yet, one morning, a real wolf did attack the flock. The shepherd boy dashed for aid shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.

Frustrated and alone, the boy battled against the wolf but managed to protect only few of his flock. Devastated, he went back to the town only to receive a lesson on honesty and the consequences of false alarms.

The story of this shepherd boy has been transmitted generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the value of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the risks of crying wolf. Moreover, it stresses how trust once lost, is hard to earn back. It's a story as appropriate today as it was in the past.