village of Everton, of which I have been
speaking, when my attention was arrested by a market-cross in a field
on the opposite side of the road. I was somewhat surprised that it had
escaped my notice when I formerly passed that way, and I immediately
crossed over to examine it. It was formed, as all the English
market-crosses are, of a series of flat steps, with an upright shaft
in the centre, was built of the red sandstone of the district, and
bore the appearance of great antiquity. The field was not far from
what might be called the principal street of the village; and as I was
aware that considerable changes had taken place of late years in the
neighbourhood, it occurred to me as possible, that at one time the
cross might have occupied the centre of a space on which the markets
were held. My time, however, being limited, I was unable to make any
immediate inquiries regarding it, but resolved to take an early
opportunity of making myself acquainted with its early history, so as
to rescue one interesting relic at least of the place from apparently
a very undeserved obscurity. This opportunity did not present itself
for some weeks; but at length it did occur, and I started for the
place, to collect all the information, both traditional and otherwise,
which I could regarding it.

On arriving at the spot, my surprise may be conceived, for it cannot
be described, when, on looking at the field where it stood, I found
that it had been removed, and all that remained to point out the
place, was the bare mark on the grass of the spot which it had
occupied. The consternation of Alladin, when he got up one fine
morning and found that his gorgeous palace had vanished during the
night, was hardly greater than mine on making this sad discovery; and,
like him, I daresay, I rubbed my eyes in hopes that my visual organs
had deceived me, but with as little success. On looking to the other
side of the road, I observed a mason at work repairing the opposite
wall with some very suspicious-looking stones, and I immediately
crossed over, and commenced a categorical examination of the supposed
delinquent. I inquired whether he could explain to me the cause of the
removal of the ancient cross, which used to be in the field exactly
opposite to where we were then standing; but he said that, although he
was an old residenter in Everton, he had not even been aware of the
existence of such an object. This I set down as an additional instance
of t