SCENE I--Before the War

Six Sailor Boys enter from the right, Six Soldier Boys enter from the left. They march forward in two lines, carrying flags, pause and sing. Cross flags or wave them while singing the last four lines.

Sailor and Soldier Boys (_sing_):

_Tune_: COLUMBIA, THE GEM OF THE OCEAN

The flag of our nation we're bringing, The banner for me and for you; As songs of dear Lincoln we're singing, We stand 'neath the Red, White and Blue, O flag of a nation united, We love your bright folds and your stars, We march 'neath the bonnie bright banner, This good land of freedom is ours. We'll stand by the Red, White and Blue, We'll stand by the Red, White and Blue, The flag of our nation forever, We'll stand by the Red, White and Blue!

See, the bonnie bright banners are streaming, We wave them all high in the air, The Red, White and Blue now is gleaming, Beloved by all men everywhere. Oh, long may the banner be waving, Upheld by soldiers and sailors true; Three cheers for the flag of our nation, We'll stand by the Red, White and Blue, We'll stand by the Red, White and Blue, We'll stand by the Red, White and Blue, The flag of our nation forever, We'll stand by the Red, White and Blue.

(Boys _march forward and back_, Soldiers _in one line abreast_, Sailors _in another, following_. _Lines march right and left_, Sailors _from one side of stage_, Soldiers _from the other, pass each other several times at center of stage_. _Halt at center of stage, the two lines facing each other, close ranks at back and spread out at front, forming an open triangle, thus_ [Greek: lambda].)

Soldiers:

_We're_ the boys of the land! We'll always be true To the flag of the Union, The Red, White and Blue.

Sailors:

We're the boys of the sea! Wherever we sail The Red, White and Blue Shall weather each gale.

All (_waving flags_):

The boys of the land and the boys of the sea, Sing a song for our banner, the flag of the free, The Union forever, for me and for you, Three cheers for our banner, the Red, White and Blue.

All (_sing, waving flags during chorus_):

HURRAH FOR THE FLAG![F]

There are many flags in many lands, There are flags of ev'ry hue, But there is no flag, however grand, Like our own Red, White and Blue.

_Chorus_:

Then hurrah for the flag! our country's flag, Its stripes and white stars, too; There is no flag in any land Like our own Red, White and Blue!

[F] By Mary H. Howliston. From Cat Tails and Other Tales, by this author, in which book music for words given here will be found. Price, paper binding, twenty-five cents; cloth binding, forty cents.

(_Enter_ Messenger _from the back, marches between the two lines to the front_. Boys _form in semicircle behind him_.)

Messenger:

What threatens the Union In this land of ours? There appears a new flag, Of the Stars and Bars. "United we stand, Divided we fall." Who now can save us? On whom shall we call?

First Soldier:

From Lincoln I have come today Our Lincoln! With justice he will take his place, Our Lincoln! With courage on his noble brow, He will protect the Union now, We all salute; to him we bow, Our Lincoln!

(All _give Flag Salute_.)

Messenger:

From Lincoln I have come today To call for Volunteers! Other messengers are on their way To call for Volunteers. Shall we now see our flag bowed low? No, to meet the Southerners we'll go, Marching while the bugles blow The call for Volunteers!

All:

The time has come for strife and war, Blow, bugles, blow! The soldier boys are called once more, Blow, bugles, blow!

Bear your message far and wide, Ring out through all the countryside, We are a Nation's hope and pride, Blow, bugles, blow!

(_Exit_ All, _as bugle call is heard_.)