In the heart of the mesmerizing rolling fields, lived a young shepherd. His being was essentially unadulterated, simple yet virtuous. His only responsibility was essentially to look after his herd of sheep.

Their low murmuring and the whispering of the wind through the single tree on the hilltop were his constant associates. Day after day, watching over his charges inculcated in him a sense of quiet fulfillment.

But, there were at times moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would yearn for fellowship. On one such day from sheer monotony, the shepherd boy conceived a troublesome scheme.

Tales of wild beasts preying on sheep had been around for a while in the hamlet. So, the boy opted to used this fear and played a trick on the villagers.

One morning he raced into the village yelling “Wolf! There is a wolf attacking my sheep!” The terrified villagers rushed up the hills to offer assistance but discovered nothing threatening.

The boy giggled at the puzzle on their faces. This trick laughed for a few more days. However, one day, a real wolf did come to prey the herd. The shepherd boy ran for aid screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one showed up.

Frustrated and alone, the boy battled against the wolf but managed to protect only few of his sheep. Devastated, he went back to the town only to be met with a scolding on honesty and the results of dishonesty.

The tale click here of this shepherd boy has been transmitted generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the value of honesty, the consequences of lying and the perils of crying wolf. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once violated, is hard to regain. It's a story as pertinent today as it was then.