4 ORREST HEAD. 



tourist may be assured that he has seen all that 

 falls within the scope of a summer visitor in the 

 opening region of the Lake District. 



A few minutes will take him to Orrest Head, 

 where he will see a lovely view, — a picturesque 

 cottage roof, surrounded by trees, in 

 obeest head. ^ e 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, — some- 

 times 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 goodnatured criticism was, "that was too 

 big a bo-o for a young horse;" and this 

 is still the proverbial expression of extreme 

 surprise. 



