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17. 
yielded to their request. Instantaneously
I found the ring was withdrawn: I at=
=tempted to grasp it; but it fell to the ground,
from whence I snatched it with eager haste,
and found to my utter confusion, the stone
was gone: <emotion>I sought it with many tears, cry=
=ing aloud to those about me for help,</emotion> but
none assisted me: and when I looked around
I found my self forsaken and alone. Left in=
=deed to all the <emotion>horrors of despair. The
door of hope was closed,</emotion> and my torment 
seemed already begun. In this <sic>dreadfull</sic>  <corr>dreadful</corr>
situation, I saw my dear departed Father coming
towards me, and dreaded his frown, but when
I ventured to lift up my eyes, <emotion>his countenance
denoted pity and compassion</emotion>: and he kind=
=ly asked me the cause of my grief. I am
undone for ever! was the reply, reciting my 
<sic>errtrievable</sic>  <corr>irretrievable</corr> loss, and adding, your removal
out of this world is the cause of all my misfor=
=tunes. He answered, "The Lord sees your afflic=
=tions, and has permitted me, to tell you, that
stone was not in your power to keep: it was
given you for a trial, but it will be preserved
in safer hands, and will be produced in your 
behalf at the time when you most need it."
This was like the news of Pardon, to a con=
=demned criminal! I now took courage and
told him all that oppressed me: How <emotion>I dreaded
having any intercourse with the world, but
wished rather for dissolution.</emotion> And concluded