There was once a young shepherd boy who tended his sheep atthe foot of a mountain near a dark forest. It was rather lonelyfor him all day, so he thought upon a plan by which he could get alittle company and some excitement. He rushed down towards thevillage calling out "Wolf, wolf," And the villagers came out tomeet him, and some of them stopped with him for a considerabletime. This pleased the boy so much that a few days afterwards hetried the same trick, and again the villagers came to his help. But shortly after this a wolf actually did come out from theforest, and began to worry the sheep, and the boy of course criedout "Wolf, wolf," Still louder than before. But this time thevillagers, who had been fooled twice before, thought the boy wasagain deceiving them, and nobody stirred to come to his help. Sothe wolf made a good meal off the boy's flock1, and when the boycomplained, the wise man of the village said: 
A liar2 will not be believed, even when he speaks the truth. 