Narrative of the Young Shepherd
Deep within the mesmerizing read more rolling fields, dwelt a shepherd boy. His being was untarnished, simple, and honest. His only responsibility was to look after his herd of rams.
Their soft bleating and the whispering of the wind among the solo tree on the mountaintop were his only associates. Day after day, guarding his charges inculcated in him a notion of tranquil contentment.
But, there were occasional moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would yearn for fellowship. On one such day out of sheer monotony, the shepherd boy devised a mischievous plan.
Narratives of predators preying on sheep had been around for a while in the hamlet. So, the boy opted to exploit this fear and played a trick on the villagers.
One afternoon he ran into the village screaming “Wolf! A wolf is that has taken my sheep!” The frightened villagers ran up the hills to offer assistance but discovered no beast.
The boy chuckled at the dilemma on their faces. This trick persisted for a few days more. But, one morning, a real wolf did charge at the herd. The shepherd boy dashed for aid screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.
Frustrated and alone, the boy fought against the wolf but managed to rescue only few of his sheep. Heartbroken, he went back to the town only to receive a scolding on honesty and the results of false alarms.
His tale of this shepherd boy has been passed down generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the significance of honesty, the implications of dishonesty and the dangers of false alarms. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once lost, is difficult to reclaim. It's a story as relevant today as it was anciently.