Narrative of the Young Shepherd

Narrative of the Young Shepherd

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Deep within the mesmerizing rolling fields, resided a shepherd boy. His existence was essentially pure, simple, and honest. His only responsibility was mainly to care for his flock of rams.

Their soft bleating and the whispering of the wind through the single tree on the hilltop were his only companions. Day upon day, watching over his responsibilities imbued in him a feeling of quiet fulfillment.

However, there were occasional moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would pine for fellowship. On one such day because of sheer monotony, the shepherd boy conceived a mischievous scheme.

Narratives of predators preying 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 villagers.

One morning he raced into the village yelling “Wolf! There is a wolf that has taken my sheep!” The scared villagers rushed here up the hills to help but discovered nothing threatening.

The boy laughed at the puzzle on their faces. This prank laughed for a few more days. Yet, one noon, a real wolf did attack the herd. The shepherd boy ran for help, screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.

Frustrated and alone, the boy struggled against the wolf but could protect only few of his flock. Devastated, he went back to the village only to be met with a reprimand on honesty and the repercussions of crying wolf.

His tale of this shepherd boy has been transmitted generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the importance 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 pertinent today as it was in the past.

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