In the heart of the enchanting rolling hills, lived a shepherd boy. His life was unadulterated, simple, and honest. His primary duty was essentially to look after his flock of ewes.
Their gentle baas and the murmuring of the gales through the lone tree on the hilltop were his main companions. Day in day, guarding his wards imbued in him a sense of calm satisfaction.
However, there were at times moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would pine for companionship. During one such occasion out of sheer monotony, the shepherd boy conceived a naughty scheme.
Tales of The shepherd boy story wild beasts preying on sheep had been heard times and again in the hamlet. So, the boy decided to exploit this fear and played a trick on the villagers.
One day he raced into the village screaming “Wolf! A wolf is attacking my sheep!” The frightened villagers rushed up the hills to offer assistance but saw no wolf.
The boy chuckled at the dilemma on their faces. This trick continued for a few days more. But, one day, a real wolf did charge at the flock. The shepherd boy dashed for help, screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.
Frustrated and alone, the boy struggled against the wolf but managed to rescue only few of his flock. Devastated, he went back to the town only to be met with a reprimand on honesty and the results of crying wolf.
His tale of this shepherd boy has been handed down generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the value of honesty, the consequences of lying and the dangers of crying wolf. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once broken, is difficult to earn back. It's a story as appropriate today as it was then.