The Tale of the Shepherd Boy
The Tale of the Shepherd Boy
Blog Article
At the center of the enchanting rolling fields, resided a boy named Shepherd. His being was essentially pure, simple yet virtuous. His only responsibility was mainly to look after his flock of ewes.
Their gentle baas and the murmuring of the wind among the single tree on the mountaintop were his only co-dwellers. Day in day, looking out for his wards inculcated in him a feeling of calm satisfaction.
But, there were at times moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would pine for fellowship. During one such occasion from sheer boredom, the shepherd boy conceived a mischievous plan.
Tales of predators prowling on sheep had been around for a while in the town. So, the boy chose to exploit this fear and played a trick on the townsfolk.
One day he raced into the village shouting “Wolf! A wolf is preying on my sheep!” The scared villagers sprinted up the hills to offer assistance but saw no beast.
The boy chuckled at the confusion on their faces. This game persisted for a few more days. However, one noon, a real wolf did come to prey the flock. The shepherd boy dashed for help, screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.
Frustrated and alone, the boy struggled against the wolf but managed to rescue only few of his flock. Devastated, he went back to the village only to be met with a reprimand on honesty and the get more info repercussions of dishonesty.
The story of this shepherd boy has been transmitted generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the value of honesty, the consequences of lying and the risks of false alarms. Moreover, it highlights how trust once broken, is hard to regain. It's a story as appropriate today as it was then.
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