The Shepherd Boy And The Wolf

by Aesop

　　A Shepherd Boy tended his master's Sheep near a dark forest notfar from the village. Soon he found life in the pasture verydull. All he could do to amuse himself was to talk to his dog orplay on his shepherd's pipe.

　　One day as he sat watching the Sheep and the quiet forest, andthinking what he would do should he see a Wolf, he thought of aplan to amuse himself.

　　His Master had told him to call for help should a Wolf attack theflock, and the Villagers would drive it away. So now, though hehad not seen anything that even looked like a Wolf, he ran towardthe village shouting at the top of his voice, "Wolf! Wolf!"

　　As he expected, the Villagers who heard the cry dropped theirwork and ran in great excitement to the pasture. But when theygot there they found the Boy doubled up with laughter at thetrick he had played on them.

　　A few days later the Shepherd Boy again shouted, "Wolf! Wolf!"Again the Villagers ran to help him, only to be laughed at again.

　　Then one evening as the sun was setting behind the forest and theshadows were creeping out over the pasture, a Wolf really didspring from the underbrush and fall upon the Sheep.

　　In terror the Boy ran toward the village shouting "Wolf! Wolf!"But though the Villagers heard the cry, they did not run to helphim as they had before. "He cannot fool us again," they said.

　　The Wolf killed a great many of the Boy's sheep and then slippedaway into the forest.

　　Liars are not believed even when they speak the truth.

　　Also referred to as: Never cry "Wolf"!