The Tale of the Shepherd Boy

Deep within read more the mesmerizing rolling meadows, dwelt a shepherd boy. His life was mostly untarnished, and unsophisticated. His primary duty was mainly to care for his herd of sheep.

Their gentle baas and the murmuring of the breezes among the lone tree on the hilltop were his only companions. Day upon day, looking out for his wards imbued in him a sense of calm satisfaction.

Yet, there were occasional moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would yearn for companionship. On one such day out of sheer monotony, the shepherd boy conceived a naughty scheme.

Narratives of wolves hunting on sheep had been heard times and again in the hamlet. So, the boy chose to exploit this fear and played a trick on the villagers.

One morning he ran into the village yelling “Wolf! A wolf is preying on my sheep!” The terrified villagers rushed up the hills to offer assistance but discovered no beast.

The boy giggled at the dilemma on their faces. This game laughed for a couple of more days. Yet, one morning, a real wolf actually come to prey the grazing sheep. The shepherd boy ran for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one showed up.

Frustrated and alone, the boy fought against the wolf but could rescue only few of his flock. Devastated, he went back to the village only to be met with a reprimand on honesty and the repercussions of dishonesty.

His tale of this shepherd boy has been passed down generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the value of honesty, the consequences of lying and the risks of crying wolf. Moreover, it stresses how trust once broken, is hard to earn back. It's a story as pertinent today as it was in the past.