The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf
Once upon a time, in a peaceful village nestled between green hills, there lived a young shepherd boy named Ethan. His job was to take care of the sheep that belonged to the villagers. Every morning, he would take the flock to a lush meadow near the forest and watch over them until the sun began to set.
Ethan was a bright and lively boy, but he often felt bored while tending to the sheep. The endless hours of solitude made him restless, and he longed for some excitement. He watched the village from afar, seeing the people go about their daily lives, and wished for some company.
One day, an idea struck him. “What if I call for help, pretending a wolf is attacking the sheep?” he thought mischievously. “That would bring all the villagers running, and I wouldn’t be so lonely anymore.”
Without another thought, Ethan climbed onto a rock and shouted at the top of his lungs, “Wolf! Wolf! A wolf is attacking the sheep! Help!”
Hearing his cries, the villagers grabbed their tools and rushed up the hill to save the flock. When they arrived, they found Ethan laughing. “There is no wolf!” he said, giggling. “I just wanted to see if you would come.”
The villagers shook their heads in disappointment. “Ethan, this is not something to joke about,” one of the elders said. “If a real wolf comes one day, we may not believe you.”
But Ethan did not take their words seriously. A few days later, he grew bored again and decided to repeat his trick. Once more, he cried, “Wolf! Wolf! Please help!”
The villagers, though hesitant, could not ignore the possibility of danger. They ran up the hill again, only to find Ethan laughing just as before. “You should have seen your faces!” he chuckled.
This time, the villagers were truly upset. “Ethan, if you keep lying, no one will trust you anymore,” they warned him. “We will not come next time.”
Days passed, and one evening, just as the sky turned orange with the setting sun, Ethan heard rustling in the bushes. His heart pounded as he saw a dark figure emerge from the trees—a real wolf! Its sharp eyes gleamed as it crept toward the flock, its fangs bared.
Terrified, Ethan jumped to his feet and screamed, “Wolf! Wolf! A wolf is attacking the sheep! Please, help me!”
But this time, the villagers did not come. They remembered how Ethan had tricked them before, and they thought he was playing another joke.
Ethan cried and waved his arms, but no one believed him. The wolf lunged at the frightened sheep, and Ethan, powerless to stop it, could only watch as it carried away one of the lambs into the forest.
Heartbroken and ashamed, Ethan returned to the village with tears in his eyes. “A real wolf came,” he sobbed. “I called for help, but no one believed me. I am so sorry for lying before.”
The villagers looked at Ethan with sadness. One of the elders placed a hand on his shoulder and said gently, “Ethan, trust is like a delicate thread. Once broken, it is difficult to mend. If we lie, people will stop believing us, even when we tell the truth.”
From that day on, Ethan learned the value of honesty. He never lied again, and he worked hard to regain the trust of the villagers. Though it took time, the villagers eventually forgave him, and he grew into a responsible and truthful young man.
The moral of the Story: Always be honest. If you lie, people may not believe you even when you tell the truth.
Glossary
- Shepherd – A person who takes care of sheep.
- Flock – A group of sheep.
- Meadow – A field of grass and flowers.
- Mischievously – In a playful but sometimes annoying way.
- Giggle – To laugh lightly in a playful manner.
- Hesitant – Unsure or slow to act.
- Bared – Shown openly, usually referring to teeth.
- Lunged – Jumped forward suddenly.
- Trust – The belief that someone is honest and reliable.
- Responsible – Taking care of duties and being dependable.
