A shepherd with a large flock of sheep faces a challenge when he must return home after sunset. The brook he needs to cross has swelled due to recent rains, necessitating the use of a narrow footbridge. The sheep can only cross one at a time, leading to a prolonged wait. As the story unfolds, the narrator engages with an audience, particularly children, who grow increasingly impatient for the tale to progress. Each time they ask for the story to continue, they are met with the explanation that the sheep are still crossing the bridge, creating a cycle of anticipation and frustration. The narrative cleverly plays with the concept of storytelling itself, as the children’s eagerness mirrors the slow progress of the sheep. The shepherd's task becomes a metaphor for the nature of stories that can stretch indefinitely, reflecting on the patience required in both listening and storytelling. The tale emphasizes the idea that some stories may never reach a conclusion, as the act of storytelling can become an endless loop, much like the sheep crossing the bridge. Ultimately, the story concludes with the realization that the sheep are still crossing at dawn, and the shepherd must turn back to drive them to pasture, leaving the audience in a state of unresolved anticipation. This cyclical structure highlights the playful nature of narratives and the relationship between storyteller and audience, where the journey can be more significant than the destination.
By Parker Fillmore · First published 1943 · Genre: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Fable