In the heart of the captivating rolling hills, lived a boy named Shepherd. His being was untarnished, simple yet virtuous. His only responsibility was to tend to his herd of ewes.
Their low murmuring and the whispering of the gales across the single tree on the hilltop were his constant co-dwellers. Day in day, watching over his wards imbued in him a notion of calm satisfaction.
However, there were at times moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would pine for fellowship. In one such instance because of sheer boredom, the shepherd boy conceived a troublesome plan.
Narratives of wild beasts prowling on sheep had long been circulating in the hamlet. So, the boy opted to used this fear and played a prank on the inhabitants.
One morning he raced into the village shouting “Wolf! A wolf is attacking my sheep!” The terrified villagers sprinted up the hills to offer assistance but saw no beast.
The boy giggled at the puzzle on their faces. This game continued for a few days more. But, one morning, a real wolf did attack the grazing sheep. The shepherd boy raced for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one showed up.
Frustrated and alone, the boy struggled against the wolf but could protect only few of his sheep. Devastated, he returned to the village only to receive a lesson on honesty and the consequences of dishonesty.
The story of this shepherd boy has been handed down generations as a mediaeval parable to The shepherd boy story teaching the importance of honesty, the consequences of lying and the dangers of crying wolf. Moreover, it stresses how trust once violated, is hard to earn back. It's a story as relevant today as it was in the past.