The Tale of the Shepherd Boy

The Tale of the Shepherd Boy

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At the center of the mesmerizing rolling hills, dwelt a young shepherd. His life was essentially untarnished, simple, and honest. His primary duty was to look after his flock of rams.

Their low murmuring and the whispering of the breezes among the lone tree on the hilltop were his only associates. Day upon day, looking out for his responsibilities inculcated in him a notion of quiet fulfillment.

Yet, there were occasional moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would yearn for company. On one such day from sheer tedium, the shepherd boy conceived a mischievous scheme.

Tales of wolves hunting on sheep had long been circulating in the hamlet. So, the boy chose to exploit this fear and played a joke on the townsfolk.

One morning he ran into the village shouting “Wolf! A wolf here is attacking my sheep!” The terrified villagers sprinted up the hills to offer assistance but discovered nothing threatening.

The boy chuckled at the dilemma on their faces. This game continued for a few more days. Yet, one noon, a real wolf did charge at the grazing sheep. The shepherd boy dashed for aid shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one came.

Frustrated and alone, the boy struggled against the wolf but could rescue only few of his flock. Devastated, he went back to the village only to be met with a scolding on honesty and the consequences of false alarms.

The tale of this shepherd boy has been transmitted generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the importance of honesty, the consequences of lying and the dangers of false alarms. Moreover, it stresses how trust once broken, is difficult to regain. It's a story as appropriate today as it was anciently.

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