The Clog from OzThe Boy who cried Wolf
June 18th 2006 23:14
“A shepherd-boy, who watched a flock of sheep near a village, brought out the villagers three or four times by crying out, "Wolf! Wolf!" and when his neighbors came to help him, laughed at them for their pains. The Wolf, however, did truly come at last. The Shepherd-boy, now really alarmed, shouted in an agony of terror: "Pray, do come and help me; the Wolf is killing the sheep"; but no one paid any heed to his cries, nor rendered any assistance. The Wolf, having no cause of fear, at his leisure lacerated or destroyed the whole flock.” - Aesop
Ring any bells? This is one of Aesop’s’ most popular fables which holds many variations of the moral: “There is no believing a liar, even when he speaks the truth”. The story is more commonly known today as The Boy who cried Wolf, and is taught to children at a young age so they don’t worry their parents with needless whingeing. I think it’s used for kids who overreact when they fall over or get ‘injured’ – but don’t you notice that they only have a crying song-and-dance if they know their Mummy or Daddy is watching?
Image part of the Public Domain
Wolf! Wolf!
Image part of the Public Domain
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