The Shepherd Boy

In a small village nestled between rolling green hills, there lived a young shepherd boy who was known throughout the land for his exceptional wisdom. Though he was only twelve years old, his thoughtful answers to difficult questions had earned him a reputation that reached even the royal court.

The boy spent his days tending his flock of sheep in the meadows, watching over them with careful attention while pondering the mysteries of the world around him. His sheep were the fattest and healthiest in the entire region, for he knew exactly where to find the sweetest grass and the clearest streams.

One day, as the shepherd boy was leading his flock through the countryside, he encountered three travelers on horseback. They were richly dressed nobles from the king’s court, and they had heard tales of the boy’s remarkable intelligence.

“You there, shepherd boy!” called the first nobleman. “We have heard that you possess great wisdom for one so young. Would you be willing to answer a question for us?”

The boy removed his cap respectfully and replied, “I would be honored to try, my lords, though I am but a simple shepherd.”

The second nobleman leaned forward in his saddle. “Tell us then, how many drops of water are there in the ocean?”

The other nobles smirked, expecting the boy to be stumped by such an impossible question. But the shepherd boy thought carefully for a moment, then answered with confidence.

“My lords, if you can stop all the rivers and streams from flowing into the ocean, and prevent all rain from falling into it, then I will count every drop for you exactly.”

The nobles were impressed by this clever response, but the third nobleman decided to pose an even more difficult question.

“Very well, shepherd boy. Then tell us this: how many stars are there in the sky?”

Again, the boy considered the question thoughtfully. Then he picked up a large sheet of white paper that he used for writing down his thoughts during long days in the fields. With a piece of charcoal, he began making thousands of tiny black dots across the paper.

“My lords,” he said, holding up the paper covered in countless dots, “there are exactly as many stars in the sky as there are dots on this paper. If you would like to verify my answer, you are welcome to count them both.”

The nobles laughed and shook their heads in amazement. Never had they encountered such quick wit in one so young.

Word of the shepherd boy’s cleverness quickly reached the king, who was intrigued by reports of the child’s intelligence. The king decided he must meet this remarkable boy for himself.

A royal messenger arrived at the shepherd’s cottage with a summons. “The king commands your presence at court tomorrow,” the messenger announced. “His Majesty wishes to test your wisdom personally.”

The shepherd boy’s parents were both excited and nervous. They dressed their son in his finest clothes – which were still quite humble – and sent him off to the royal palace with prayers for his success.

When the boy arrived at court, he found himself standing before the king in a magnificent throne room filled with courtiers, nobles, and advisors. The king, a wise and just ruler, looked down at the young shepherd with keen interest.

“So you are the boy whose intelligence has become the talk of my kingdom,” the king said. “I have three questions for you. Answer them truthfully and wisely, and you will be rewarded. But if you attempt to deceive me or give foolish answers, you will be dismissed from my court forever.”

The shepherd boy bowed deeply. “Your Majesty, I promise to answer with complete honesty.”

The king nodded approvingly. “Very well. First question: What is the fastest thing in the world?”

Without hesitation, the boy replied, “Thought, Your Majesty. Nothing can travel faster than a thought, for in an instant it can reach the furthest corners of the earth or soar to the highest heavens.”

“Excellent,” said the king. “Second question: What is the richest thing in the world?”

The boy thought for a moment, then answered, “The earth itself, Your Majesty. For the earth provides everything we need – our food, our water, our shelter, and all the treasures beneath its surface. Without the earth, no amount of gold or silver would have any value.”

The king smiled with approval. “Wise indeed. Now for the final question, and this is the most important one: What is the most precious thing in the world?”

The shepherd boy was quiet for a long moment, considering his answer carefully. The entire court held its breath, waiting to hear what he would say.

Finally, the boy looked up at the king with clear, honest eyes. “Your Majesty, the most precious thing in the world is time. For time cannot be bought with any amount of treasure, and once it is spent, it can never be recovered. Every moment is a gift that should be treasured and used wisely.”

The king was so moved by this answer that he stood up from his throne and began to applaud. The entire court joined in, for they had never heard such wisdom from one so young.

“Truly, you are wise beyond your years,” the king declared. “As a reward for your thoughtful answers, I appoint you as my youngest advisor. You will continue to tend your sheep, for that honest work has taught you much about life, but you will also come to court once each month to share your wisdom with us.”

The shepherd boy accepted this honor gratefully, and from that day forward, he divided his time between caring for his flock and offering counsel at the royal court. His honest, thoughtful approach to every question helped the king make many wise decisions that benefited the entire kingdom.

Years later, when the shepherd boy had grown into a wise man, he was known throughout the land as one of the most trusted advisors in the realm. But he never forgot the lessons he learned as a simple shepherd – that wisdom comes from careful observation, honest thinking, and always speaking the truth.

And so the tale reminds us that true wisdom is not measured by age or wealth, but by the honesty and thoughtfulness with which we approach life’s great questions.