e our lives without thee?
What all our lives to save thee?
We reck not what we gave thee;
We will not dare to doubt thee,
But ask whatever else, and we will dare!

OUR FUTURE MILITIA SYSTEM.

During the first few days of the war, in that strange epoch of thrill
and shudder,--when there was mounting in hot haste, and warlike citizens
looked to their revolvers, and peaceful citizens looked up eligible
diseases for the family physician, ere examining surgeons yet were,--in
the midst of that general sense of untried powers and uncertain
destinies, who does not remember the sudden sense of relief which
diffused itself over any given community, on the announcement that
Brigadier-General Blank, of the Blank Division of State Militia, had
arrived in town? Here was one at last who could speak with some
authority. This man had slept three nights upon "the tented field," on
occasion of a muster. He had once formed a battalion in line, or at
least been present at that mystic process. He had been heard to quote
from the first volume of Scott, and had been known to nod significantly,
on an allusion to Hardee. Here was a man for opinions. Now we should
know what the Rebels meant to do, and precisely how many were killed by
the firing from Fort Sumter. We should ascertain the measures already
taken for defence, and the actual number of military overcoats in
possession of the State authorities.

Of course the local authorities waited upon him without delay. They
found him at the head-quarters of Rifle Company X. An imperfectly
developed rifleman, with coat unbuttoned and gun held anxiously, stood
sentinel in the entry,--taking no notice of any one, and looking as if
he would be profoundly grateful if no one would take notice of him.
Presently the great man appeared. He wore around his martial breast a
blue cloth cape, with a festive lining of white silk. His usually
good-natured countenance was attuned to an aspect of profounder thought.
Near him stood his only luggage, a large epaulet-box, of shape
inexplicable to the unwarlike. Behind him appeared the members of his
staff, wearing white cotton gloves, and maintaining attitudes of
unwonted stiffness, as if, though conscious of not carrying a great many
guns, they would at least contribute to their country's cause the
needful quota of ramrods. The whole scene was enough to awe the stoutest
heart, and the humbler and shorter among the sele