TO THE strains of YANKEE DOODLE the Goddess of Liberty comes onto stage, marches down left side, from left corner front in a diagonal line to center of back, down to right corner front, up right side, across to center of back and halts. Music ceases and the little "flag girls" march in, half from each side of stage, half way between Liberty and front of stage. The files pass across stage and off at opposite sides, turn and march on again, meet at center of stage, form couples, first couple turns and passes off at right side, second couple at left side, etc., thus:
The flag is carried in right hand, arm hanging at side, flag resting against right shoulder. While this march is being given as silently as possible, Liberty recites in strong, clear voice and a great deal of feeling the following medley:
THE CALL OF THE FLAG
"Speed our Republic, O Father on high!
Lead us in pathways of justice and right;
Hail! three times hail to our country and flag!
Girdle with virtue the armor of might."
"No refuge could save the hireling and slave,
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave."
"'A song for our banner?' The watchword recall
Which gave the Republic her station:
'United we stand—divided we fall';
It made and preserves us a nation."
"Up with our banner bright,
Sprinkled with starry light,
Spread its fair emblems from mountain to shore,
While through the sounding sky
Loud rings the Nation's cry—
UNION AND LIBERTY! ONE EVERMORE!"
The girls' march should be arranged to close about the time Liberty finishes speaking. One verse and chorus of MARCHING THROUGH GEORGIA is then played and as music ceases the small boys come on and march in the same way as the girls did, the drummer boy beating time softly, occasionally. While the boys march Liberty speaks:
THE RESPONSE OF THE SOLDIER
"War! war! war! Heaven aid the right!
God move the hero's arm in the fearful fight!
God send the women sleep in the long, long night."
"Never or now! cries the blood of a nation,
Poured on the turf where the red rose should bloom.
Now is the day and the hour of salvation;
Never or now! peals the trumpet of doom!"
"Lay down the axe, fling by the spade,
Leave in its track the toiling plough;
The rifle and the bayonet-blade
For arms like yours are fitter now:
"And let the hands that ply the pen
Quit the light task and learn to wield
The horseman's crooked brand, and rein
The charger on the battle-field."
"And how can a man die better
Than facing fearful odds
For the ashes of his fathers
And the temple of his gods?"
As Liberty concludes the lines and the boys march off, one verse and chorus of COLUMBIA, THE GEM OF THE OCEAN, is played, then music changed to a patriotic march and the boys in Blue and Gray march on in two companies. Grays come on at front corner of right and Blues at front corner of left, march up sides of stage, across to near-center of back, down to front of stage, to corners, up sides and at corners of back second boy in each line steps up by first, fourth by third, etc., and form double files. March to near-center of stage, down center to front, up sides, and at corners of back each company forms fours, march half way down stage and halt in lines of four each, thus: