Summary
Highlights
Arthur, a clever but imaginative boy from a village, is tasked with taking his father's sheep to the mountain for grazing. He finds the task incredibly boring, leading him to seek amusement.
Boredom strikes, and Arthur decides to play a trick. He shouts, 'Help! There's a wolf!', causing the villagers to rush up the mountain to help him, only to find no wolf and Arthur laughing at his prank. His father warns him against such behavior.
Arthur repeats his prank the next day, shouting for help again. Fewer villagers come, and they are met with the same trick. His father becomes angry, warning him that people won't believe him when he truly needs help.
A few days later, Arthur tries a different trick, making fake paw prints and racing down the mountain, claiming the wolf is back. Even fewer villagers follow, and they quickly realize it's another lie, telling him "No more stories."
One cloudy day, a real wolf emerges from the trees, scattering the sheep. Arthur, genuinely terrified, rushes down to the village, crying for help, but no one believes him due to his past lies. His father dismisses his pleas as another story.
Arthur returns to the pasture to find most of his sheep gone, taken by the wolf. He faces the harsh reality of his actions, understanding why no one believed him when it mattered most. He eventually admits his sorrow and promises to tell the truth.
Arthur expresses his remorse to his family and the villagers, promising to always tell the truth from then on. His parents reassure him and suggest that two boys should watch the sheep next time, providing Arthur with a chance to redeem himself and learn the value of honesty. The moral of the story is emphasized: if you tell lies, people may not believe you even when you are telling the truth.