"The sun had sunk into the distant west; The cannon ceased to roar, which tell of rest-- Rest from the shedding of a nation's blood, Rest to lay their comrades 'neath the sod.
"'Twas early spring, and calm and still the night; The moon had risen casting silvery light; On either side of stream the armies lay Waiting for morn to renew the fray.
"The Rappahannock silently flowed on, Between the hills so fair to look upon; Whose dancing waters tingled with silvery light, Vied in their beauty with the starry night.
"But list! from northern hills there steal along The softest strains of music and of song----"
A good effect is obtained by turning off lights during the music of JOHN BROWN'S BODY so stage is dim during the speaking and the singing. As Liberty pauses the Boys in Blue sing a stanza of THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER. When they finish, the Boys in Gray sing a stanza of DIXIE LAND. It is a good plan to have a chorus of voices behind the scenes help with the singing of both songs, to give more force to them. As last song is finished lights are turned on, Liberty resumes her place at back of stage, boys rise, leave guns, Boy in Gray leaves his Confederate flag, all march to near-front of stage and form across in two lines of eight each, thus:
The little girls in white who carried flags now march in and stand in a row back of the boys, Liberty stands just back of the line of girls.
"The fiercest agonies have the shortest reign, And after dreams of horror comes again The welcome morning with its rays of peace."
"Peace! and no longer from its brazen portals The blast of War's great organ shakes the skies! But beautiful as songs of the immortals The holy melodies of love arise."
"The union of lakes, the union of lands, The union of States none can sever; The union of hearts, the union of hands, And the flag of our Union forever."
Liberty waves her flag, the girls with flags wave them above the heads of the Boys in Blue and Gray, each boy in blue joins right hand with a boy in gray, and everyone sings the first stanza of MY COUNTRY, 'TIS OF THEE. Colored light may be thrown upon the scene for a tableau and then the curtain dropped, or Liberty may come to front of stage, lead the boys (who follow in single file), and then the little girls last, once around the stage and then off.