There was once a young shepherd boy who tended his sheep at the foot of a mountain near a

dark forest.

It was lonely for him watching the sheep all day.

No one was near, except for three farmers he could sometimes see working in the fields

in the valley below.

One day the boy thought of a plan that would help him get a little company and have some

fun.

He ran down toward the valley crying, “Wolf! Wolf!”

The men ran to meet him, and after they found out there was no wolf after all, one man remained

to talk with the boy awhile.

The boy enjoyed the company so much that a few days later he tried the same prank again,

and again the men ran to help him.

A few days later, a real wolf came from the forest and began to steal the sheep.

The startled boy ran toward the valley, and more loudly than ever he cried, “Wolf! Wolf!”

But the men, who had been fooled twice before, thought that the boy was tricking them again.

So no one came to help the boy save his sheep.

The Moral of the story is: If you often don't tell the truth, people won't believe you

even when you are telling the truth.