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Page 6:-
he will see a lovely view,- a picturesque cottage roof,
surrounded by trees, in the foreground; grey rocks cropping
out of the sward on the other side of the hedges; and in
front, overlapping hills, range behind range, with the grey
waters of the lake lying below. Already, a traveller who
should remain any time in the district would find himself
introduced to the humours of a remote region. Odd sayings
and doings remain, and traditions of old singularities are
not lost. This place, Orrest Head, was the residence of the
noted Josiah Brown, who amused himself, a century ago, with
welcoming beggars, whom he supplied with meat and lodging,
sometimes to the number of twenty in a night. He called them
his 'jolly companions,' and no doubt he got a world of
amusement out of them, in return for his hospitality. The
local saying, 'that's too big a bo-o for a young horse,' was
Josiah Brown's, and it was originated thus. He was breaking
in a young horse, when one of his men took a liberty,- such
as his servants were always taking with him,- but in this
case to be repented of. The fellow hid himself behind a
gate-post, and yelled so tremendously as his master passed
through that Josiah was thrown, and broke his leg. His
good-natured criticism was, 'that was too big a bo-o for a
young horse,' and this is still the proverbial expression of
extreme surprise.
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