In the heart of the mesmerizing rolling fields, lived a young shepherd. His being was untarnished, simple, and honest. His primary duty was essentially to care for his herd The shepherd boy story of ewes.
Their gentle baas and the rustling of the wind through the single tree on the hilltop were his only companions. Day upon day, watching over his responsibilities inculcated in him a sense of tranquil contentment.
Yet, there were occasional moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would long for company. On one such day from sheer tedium, the shepherd boy orchestrated a troublesome plot.
Narratives of predators prowling on sheep had been heard times and again in the village. So, the boy chose to exploit this fear and played a prank on the townsfolk.
One day he raced into the village shouting “Wolf! A wolf is attacking my sheep!” The scared villagers rushed up the hills for rescue but discovered nothing threatening.
The boy giggled at the dilemma on their faces. This trick persisted for a couple of more days. But, one morning, a real wolf actually attack the grazing sheep. The shepherd boy ran for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one came.
Frustrated and alone, the boy fought against the wolf but could rescue only few of his sheep. Heartbroken, he returned to the village only to receive a scolding on honesty and the consequences of dishonesty.
His tale of this shepherd boy has been handed down generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the significance of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the dangers of crying wolf. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once violated, is tough to earn back. It's a story as appropriate today as it was anciently.