Narrative of the Young Shepherd

In the heart of the enchanting rolling meadows, resided a young shepherd. His life was unadulterated, and unsophisticated. His main role was essentially to look after his herd of rams.

Their low murmuring and the murmuring of the breezes among the lone tree on the mountaintop were his main companions. Day after day, guarding his responsibilities imbued in him a notion of tranquil contentment.

But, there were the occasional moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would pine for fellowship. In one such instance from sheer tedium, the shepherd boy devised a troublesome plan.

Tales of wild beasts prowling on sheep had been heard times and again in the town. So, the boy opted to exploit this fear and played a prank on the townsfolk.

One morning he ran into the village yelling “Wolf! A wolf is that has taken my sheep!” The scared villagers sprinted up the hills for rescue but found nothing threatening.

The boy laughed at the dilemma on their faces. This game persisted for a few more days. However, one day, a real wolf actually charge at the flock. The shepherd boy raced for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.

Frustrated and alone, the boy struggled against the wolf but could protect only few of his sheep. Heartbroken, he returned to the village only to receive a scolding on honesty and the consequences of dishonesty.

The story of this shepherd boy has been transmitted generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the value of honesty, the consequences of lying and the risks of false alarms. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once violated, is hard to regain. It's a story as read more pertinent today as it was then.