(The 3iodh Branch Bemacrat HARVEY SICKIjER, Proprietor.] .NEW SERIES, forth sranrj) f nnorrat. A weekly Democratic paper, ilevoted to l'ol tics, News, the Arta *" SY HARVEY SICKLER. ; * Terms —1 copy 1 year, (in *l. K 0 If at pain within six months. Jj'2 00 will be charged ADVERTISING. 10 lines or] , I ■]' i . I less make three four hrc \thrtc sir j one one squnre'weeks weeks )*io' th nto' ff) mo 1 1 A: year Iso aire IO'J 1,25; 2.25; 2.8*1 300 5.00 2 .to. 2,00; 250 3.25 350 4.50; 6.00 i do. 3.00; 3.75 4,75; 5,50. 7.00- 9.00 t Column. 4.00; 4.50 6.50 8,00! 19.00; 15 00 do. 6.00 7,00 10 00 12 00 17.00.2.1.00 I do. B.DO 9,50 14.00 18.00:25,00 o5 0Q I do. 10,00.12,00; 17.00 22. 0 29,00 40, f Business Cards of one .-tju'irc, with p?per, $5 JOB WORK of all kinds ne ally executed, and at j.rices to sui the times. |]ocfs (Corner. The Diafted Wide-Awake. I was a glorious Wiie-Awake All marching in a row ; Ar.d wore a shiny oil-eloth cape, About two years ago. Our torches flared with turpentine, And filled the streets with smoke ; And we were sure, wh it'er might come, Secession was a joke, O, if I then had onlv dreamed The things thai now I know, I ne'er had been a Wile-Awake About two years ago. I sni 1 the South woul I never dare To strike a single blow ; I thought that they.were cowards then, About two years ago. And -o I marched behind a rail, Armed with a wedge and ntaul; With honest Abe upon a fl'.g, A boatman guant and tall. O, if I then had only dream id The things which now I know, I ne'er had been a Wide-Awabe About two years ago. My work was good my wages high, And bread an i coal was low ; The silver jin; led in my purse About two yeais ago. In peace my wife an 1 children dwelt, .11 ippy the live long day, An l w tr was but tho te irful curse Of countries far away. 0. if I then h id only dreamed The,things which now I know I ne'er had been a Wide-Awake About two years ago. ' My wife sits pale and weeping now, My children < rying low ; I did not think to go to war About two years ago. And no one now will earn their food, Ne one will be their shield ; Cod help them when I lie iu death Upon the bloody field! 0. if T then ha I only dreamed The things which now 1 k: ow, I ne'er had been a Wile-Awake About two years ago. One brother's bones half buried lie Near the Antiet tin's flow ; He was a merry, happy lad About two years ago. And where the Chichahominy Moves slowly towards the sea, 4> as left another's wasted corpse— I ana the last of three. 0, if I then had only dreamed The things which now I know, I ne'er h id been a Wide-Awake About two years a^o. Just now I saw my torch and cape, Which en: e made such a show; They are not now what once they seemed About two years ago. I thought I carrie I Freedom's light, In that smoky flaming brand j I ve ie itnei I bore destru tb-t Vtorch— That wedge has split the laad. 0, it I thon had only dreamed The things which now I know, I ne r had teen a Wide-Awake Adout two years agoj How Ilr, FELT —W e are informed that.the President takes the result of the New York dictions quite philosophically, an d will, doubt g*. profit bv the lesson. When Colonel forney inquired of hint how he felt about York, Lincoln replied: "Somewhat "ke that boy in Kentucky, who stubbed his joe while running to see his sweetheart. The "J said he was to big to cry, and far too °*dly hurt to laugh." NEVE* MIND THE WOOD-SHED.— "MV dear Amelia." said Mr. O. .f>. Collone, to the I"un(t lady whose smilea he was seeking • I have long wished for this sweet opportunity", ht I hardly da-e trust tnv-elf to speak the d*ep emotions of my palpitating' heart ; hut 1 dec are to you, my Amelia, that I I-ve you 610,4 tenderly your smiles would *hd-I your amiloa shed— " Kewer aizd the wood-shed, eo oa' irth ?ecr pretty talk." "• b ftlistcllantous. FOUND IN THE SNOW. BY AMY UKAHAM. "0 Louey, Luey, how could you fall in love with a Dutchman ?" L"Uev llill turned her sweet, blushing face to i er laughing cousin to say earnestly : lie is a G< rman. M<>llie, and of v.ry good family, though not noble. Father is vert willing f<>r toe to marry him. so Ins letter must have Ik en good." ' Yes ; if ever a father idolized a child. Uncle \\ ill is ihat father. Well, now, L"ti "V, lake pity oi: my curiosity, and tell Hie all about it." " Ma" I come in ?" said another Voice a tin* door. " Yes, come in, and hear Loi ey's confess ions," said Mr-. Lawton. And allot lit r hull the sister of the bright, merry Mollie, came it was only a year or two younger. Miss Mails Hill, wa- like hei >n face, form, and disposition. Louisa Hili, liie visitor and coiHiu, was a blonde, tan, gentle, and petite, who, having jusi pass'-o her seventeeth bin!.bay, was annnuiictflg herself as en aged to he married to R.ilp: G utslein, professor ei language in the II University. " What is thereto tell?" aslfPl Lmtse, with a little c nscious laugh. "We met, \v l"Ve ! There's the whole stoiy in-toin words " " Not a hit of it Answer your elders Nfi-s Hill, said Mrs Lawton. ''First, win* is he ?" '• He is the only son of Rolph Gottslein, of tN iriemhurg, who was a prof.-ssor of language: is hi i*, ,mly j„ a different place. lie, my Kolph, was left iiiorherlesf wl.en he wis on ly five year- old, and his sister Bert* only three, and they were educated together by their father for fourteen years. Then he died, and having been both liberal ar.d hos pitable. he left his children without anv property, but with a most finished and re markable education. Music, languages, and -deuces were the atniospiieres or their life; but they were young, and had lived a life al most r rinse. Berta was taken into the fatn tly of her aunt, and Rolph came to Ametica II- brought good lexers fr.mi his fa her's old triewls. and soon made a class of scholars in New York. For .fen years he lived there, and then came to C , with" the appoint ment'of profess 'T in the college over which father presides. He has been with us for a vear." " And the sister ?" " Berta rairried, and went to Berlin. For some years they corresponded, then her hits band removed to a more remote part of Get many, and ti.e letters were not so frequent. At last they ceased, until within a few months, when Rolph has rec- iv< d a letter, telling him of Berta's widowhood and intention of com tng to America with her little girl. Since then he lias heard nothing. She may f>e waiting to send him word exactly when to expect her, or she may have started, and be on her way." " What is I er name ?" " I never hearu him call her anything but Berta, and I never inquired her husband's name. There, girl?, ycu have all the story. Now, it is my turn to question. What in the world, Mollie, sent you out cf town at this season ?" " Oh, we are going to have a Christmas in the English style. Harry can come down by the ctrs, you know, every day, so he allowed me •>> C"tne here last week to get ready. I have sent out mi invitations for the twenty fourth, to give every body a day for rest, and the chests will stay till after New Year, when we all return to town t'gether. Write to-day Louoy, and ask Rolph to join us. Ii is holiday time." Oh yes, he will be delighted to come Where is Will, Meta V h Oh, he comes up and down wlfh Harry," said Mrs. Lawton. " You must have a doub le wedding, girls. When, Louoy ?" " Next spring. Shall you have a house full, Mollie r . " or "the week there will be twenty or thirty, and o,n Christmas Eve we give a ball. How it snows! I meant to po to Dat ton tit day for some trifles that were forgotten in town. But we must postpone it until to morrow. The tea-hell, girls, and there is Harry at the gate." " And Will," ssid Meta. " You have no eye for him, Mollie." " Never mind ; yours see for two." Christmas was near enough to make any delay about procuring the " trifles" incon venient, so the next morping the ladies wrap ped the nselv. a in hoods and cloaks, and started fort drive to Dsvton, over the new ly-fallen suow. The air was keen, but light heart* and heavy wrappers hade it defiance, and carriage rang with merry voice# and, laughter as they drove alowly through the deep drifta. xhwore nearly a mile from ..." ; t . "TO SPEAK HIS THOUGHTS IS EVERY FREEMAN'S RlGHT."—Thomas Jefferson. TUNKHANNOCK, PA.; WEDNESDAY, DEC,. 3, 1862. the h"tise, in n part of the omutrv but little built up, when Mcta hei 1 up her hand for si lence. A low, wail i>ir cry. made fainter by distance, came on the sudden hush. A cry of despairing pain that thrilled those warm young hearts. " What is it ?" ''Suppose it should be a child lost in the sn >w !" ''Stop, John!'' cried Mrs. Lawton.— '• Come, girl*, we will get out and see" A child lost in the m>w ! Ay ! a little child, croochinir down near a de-erted house, tier arms r .tied the neck of a dor, her face hidden in her poor drps, her wailing crv growing weaker with each repetition. They ound her very soon, f->r the dirk stuff dress was distinct sir she lay on the co'd white snow bank. L-mey's cloak was off in a mo ment, and Mrs. Lawton raised the shivering form from its c 'ld bed. # "My chill! my p >oC child! how came you hen-"" . The little one looked up gratefully at the kind, tender voice, but only shook her head sadly. " She must he a foreigner, M'dlie," said Meta. "Try French.' The question in French was succeeded by cue in Italian, but only the sad negitive was answt red. " My stock of German is verv scanty," Louey, '• hut it wilt do no h trtn to try." One w< rd only fell on the little girl's ear, and the dark eye kindled, the pale face Audi ed with keen pleasure. "Yes, yes. lady," she said, eagerly, in Genua i. " Marie is German." \ How came you here ?" " Marie walked from New York." " Walked ! Why, it is ;wen'v miles." " Yes ; Maria started ye*t rdav." " Take her to the carriage, Louey, and we cm talk or! the way home. I must postpone 0 y'ou till afternoon and make this yor child c mifortaole.. C-une lit tie one." But Maria clung.t" L misa, not heeding the request in a strange language. L ui*a was but little Skilled in German ; yet, by dint of attention she thnde out the child's story. Her name was Maria Berk man, and she had come fr> tn Gernnany in the summer, with her mother, who died on the ship before they reached New Y1 I and thought she would sit down in the snow, and perhaps Gid would take her to heaven, to her dear, lost mother. Mollie'o generous heart suggested every comfort, and L >uey's imperfect German con veyed B<>tno consolation to tho poor little wanderer. After a hearty meal, she was put into'a warm bed, and soon forgot her troub lea for a time in a sound sleep. After some deliberatian, the ladies decided *o keep lier until Rolph came, to see if lie c mid find some clue to her relatives or friend atid return her to them. Everything about the child denoted her claim to a place in a good ctrde. Her beauty was delicate, hei hands and feet small and perfect, her accent pure, and her manners gentle and graceful No mark of coursettesspr.low breeding show ed any fitness for the trade she had pur-ued after arriving in New York, and her qulp,h 44 is a song tnv lather wrote for my sister and tnvself. He was passionately fond of music, and no mean | composer, and when any event atfeciid him deeply, lie would often give his heart voice in music. After my mother dud, he went one | eveiiit g to t lie room where tuy sister and my self lay sleeping, and there fie sang, as if by inspiration, this 4 Prayer for the Motherless.' It was sacred to htm, and h; never gave the music to any one. We were allowed to sing u only when alone or with linn, and it never passed my hps after he died until 1 sang it fr Louise." -• The symphony was plaintive ; but when Rolph let his voice join the music every one of ifie listeners were spell bound. Not only the air, bit the deep, rich melody of the fine voice, and touching expression he gave to each word made the song a prayer indeed He. sang one verse, and then the door behind him opened slowly, and with a husned step, an eager yet still face, Maria came m. Soft ly, lu-r eyes fixed on It-dph, she crept to hi* side, and then suddenly, as if by an iriesis'a ble impulse, she poured forth a wailing vol ume of song. Rich, clear, true, yet heri hicakiug in its emotion, her voice sang, on In eding that Rolph had ceased, and with winie lips and quivering frame was watch ing her. The last note die ! away, and then with a cry of agony the child full at Rolph's feet. 44 Take me hotne !" Oh, take tne home !" she sobbed • 4 Child, child, where did you learn that soi-g ?" he cried, taking her up in his strong arms. * 4 I' is mamma's R'mg. All her own she told me once. Grandpa wrote it when her mother died. Oh, shall f never see my mother ! Can I never go hotne !" All the pent up agony of months was Rhak ing her frame now, as she lav sobbing in the aruiß that shook so with agitation they could scarcely support* ef,en her light figure. 44 Tell me vonr name. Where is your mo ther?" said Rolph. • 44 Mother died on the ship. My name is Maria Btikmanu." 44 Berta's child ! My child !" It was long b fore Maria could realize that such happiness lay in store for her. * Her un cle and the sweet lady who had found her in the snow promising her home, love, and care; it was too bewildering for belief. There was a* 4 Merry Christmas" at Mrs. Lawton's ; hut with some hearts prayers at once sorrowful and glad, and yet grateful, went up on.that holiday, for the loved lost and the lost found. TIIE SCOTT-BUCHANAN CONTRO VERSY, Reply Frdm Ex-Iresldent Buchanan. To the Editors of the National Intelligencer. With a few remarks I shall close the con troversy with general Scott, into which I have been most reluctantly forced by his vol untary and unexpected attack. This has, nevertheless, afforded me an opportunity of Correcting many unfounded reports which 1 hp.u long b-une in patience and in silence. In my answer, I have already furnished clear and distinct response to all the allegations of General Sc tt; and in his rej under he has not called in question any of my statements, witli a single exception. Which of u* is cor rect in this particular depends upon the ques t:on whether his recollection of an event which occurred more than eighteen months ago, or the statement of Mr. Holt, reduced to writing on the very day. Is entitled to the greater credit. AN ALLEGED OFFICIAL REPORT. The General, in the introduction of his re joinder, assigns as an excuse for the criticism on my public conduct that this was merely incidental to his alleged official report to President Lincoln on the condition of our for tifications.and was not primarily intended for myself. From this statement one would conclude that ho had made Rnfch a report. But where is this to lie found ? For it refer* to the Intelligencer of the 2lst October ; but there I discover nothing but his letter of four points to Mr. Seward, dated on the 3d March. 1861. advising the incoming Piesident how to guide his administration in face of the threat ening dangers to the country. In the single introductory sentence to this letter he barely refers to his 44 printed view*," (dated in Oc tober. 1860). contains nothing like an official report on the condition of the fortifications. Whether tha introduction of this letter to the public, without the consent of President Linco'ti, by one of the General'* friend*, in a political sjieech during a highly excited gu bernatorial canvass, had influenced him to pre par 3 hia critieiam on my conduct, it ia not foi I me t<> determine. THE SIX HUNDRED RECRUIT". At what period did General Sc -tt obtain the six hundred recruits to which he refer* in hie rj 'inder ? This was certainly alter the date of lm " views," on the 30ih of Octo her, 18G0, because in these he states emphat ically that the forces then at his command wete, " in all, five companies only within reach to garrison or reinlorce the (nine j forts men Honed in his " views." Do! he obtain tiie>-e recruits in November? If so, had he visited Washington or written and explained to me in what n inner this military operation could be accomplished hv the four hundred men in the five c<>mp:inu> and the six hundred recruits, I should have given his rep esentations all the consideration eminently due to his high military reputa tion. A CRITICAL PERIOD. But he informs us he did not arrive in Washington until the 12th of December. H s second recommendation to garrison these f> rts must consequently have been made according to his own statement, on the 13th, 15tb, 28f• or*3oth of or on more than one of these days. At this period the aspect of pub lie affaiis h-d greatly changed from what ii was in October. Congress wa now in ses sion. and our relations with the Seceding Cot ton States had been placed before them by the President's message. Proceedings had been instituted by that body with a view to a compromise of the dangerous questions be tween the North and the Southland the highest hopes and warmest aspir&iions were then entertained for their success. Under these ciicunulances it was the Psesidenl's du ty to take a broad view of the- condition of the ivhole country, in ail its relations, civil, industrial and commercial, as well as tnditarv giving to ea.-h its appropriate influence. It was only from such a combination that he coul i frame a policy calculated to preserve the peace and to consolidate the strength of the Union. Isolated recommendations pro ceeding from one department, without weigh ing well their effect upon the general policy, ought to be adopted with extreme caution. EFFECTS OF ARMLNLI TTTE FORTS But it seems, from the r.joinder, that Sec re Floyd, at Richmond, had claimed the honor of defeating General Scon's '• plans and solicitations respecting the forts,it being there," says the General,* <: universally ad mitted that but for that victory over tne there could have been no Rebellion." Thi6 is", in plain English, that the Secessionists ofihe Cotton States, who have since brought into the field hundreds of thousands of undoubt edly brave soldiers, wonld have abandoned in terror their unlawful and rebellious desi'.Mis, bad General Scott distributed among their nudUrous forts four hundred and eighty men in October or one thousand men in Decemlier ! This requires no comment. I have never been able to obtaia a copy of the speech of Mr. Floyd, at Richmond, to which I presume General ScoU refers; but I learned, bot at the ime and since, from gentlemen of h gh re spct&bility that in this samo speech he de nouncbd me most bitterlv for my determina tion tu stand by and sustain the Union wiib all the power I possessed und:r the Consti tution and the iaws. And here permit tae to remark, thai it is duo to general Scott, as well as myself to de ny that there is any portion of my answer which justifies the allegation that " the ex- President sneers at my ' weak device' the words ' weak device' being marked as a quo totion ) for saving the forts." This mistake f must attribute to his " accidental visitor." And in this connection I emphatically de clare that the General, neither before nor after the publication of his " views" in the Nation al Intelligencer , of the 18th of January 1861 without my consent, as-dgn-d any reason me for making this publication, or even allu ded to the subject. In this I cannot be inic taken, from the deep impression which the occurrence made upon my memory, for the reasons already mentioned in my answer. NO ARMS STOLEN BV FLOYD I should have nothing more to add had General Scott, in his rejoinder, confined him self to the topics embraced in his original let ter. He has extended them, and now for the first time, and tn a sarcastic and no kindly spirit, refers to the alleged stealing of puidic arms bj Secretary Floyd, and their transpor tation to the South in anticipation of the Re bellion. The mo6t conclusive answer to this allegation is that, notwithstanding the boast mg of Mr. Floyd at Richmond, evidently with the view of conciliating his new allies* cited, hy the General as his authority, no pyblic trips were ever stolen. This fact is established by the report of the Committee on Military Aff airs of the House jf Representatives now be fore tue, made by Mr. Stanton, of Ohio, their Cnairman, on the 18th February, 1851 and to be found m the second volume of the Reports Committees of the Efouse for the session of 1860 61. This report and the testimony be fore the Committee establish : SOME SOUTHERN STATES WITHOUT ANY ARMS WHATEVER. 1. The Southern States received in 1860 less instead of more than the quota of arms to which they were entitlod by law ; and that three of them, North Carolina, Missis •ippi and Kentucky, received no arms what t TERMS: 01.SO PBH A.M t7M JTOL.2, NO. 17. ever, and thi simpH b cau-e 'hey ' i not .i-k for them. Wi !! max .Mr STAN ON have -aid in tie II ue ''that *in-r< * -i deal •( I'tiriiuiv, ami upvcuUi ion, -anil ti>vippivhen sion as to the true state e f fuct* 'n regard to this matter." FLOVD AND THE PLTTRTL'RU QCNS. 2 Secretary FLOYD. under suspicious cir cumstances, on the 27, D. ct n b-r, 1860, and hoi a few days before he left the Department, had, without the knowl'dj.e of t t President "Mend one hundred and thirtc r. (113) col utubi ids and eleven (11) thirty-two poundetfl to be iranspured from Pittsburg to Ship Is land and Galveston, in Mississippi and Texas. This Let was brought to the knowledge of the President by a communication from Pitts burgh; and Secretary HOLT immediately thereafter countermanded the order j his predecessor, and t lie cannon were never sent. The promptitude with which we acted elicited a note of thanks, dated on the 4th of January, 1861. Rom the Select, and Common Councils •>t that city "to tli2 President, the Attorny Geiirr .l, and the acting Secretary of War," (Mr. HOJ.T.) QUTE A BLUNDER. I . After this statement, how shall we accourft fr tht? explicit declaration .J General SCOTT that, the "accidentally hearing early in March that under this posthumous order (that of Mr. FLOYD, of the 22d of December) the shipment of these guns had commenced, I communicated the fact to Secretary HOLT (acting for Secretary CAMERON)', 'juat'in titan to defeat the icbbery ?" And this ft the sams Secretary HOLT who had countermanded "the posthumous order" in the previous De cember. And, strange to say, these guns, hut t<>r the alleged interposiiou or G S orT. Were about to be sent so lite as Mirci" irotn the loyal States in'.o those over wnic'x JEFFERSON DAVIS had then for tome ti • presided ! Had General SCOTT reflected for a moment he could not have fallen into this blunder. It is quite manifest he was "with< ut a prnted document and my (his) own official papers.' 1 A QuEstion SETTIED. 3. The Goverment had on hand in the year 1850 about 500.000 old muskets, which had been condemned "as unsuitable for public ser vice, tfnder the act of 3d of March, 1825. They tfere of such a character, that, although offered both a public and private sale for $2 50 each, purchasers could not be obtained at that rate, except for a comparative small number. On the 30 of November, 1559, Secre-" tary FLOYD ordered about one tilth of the whole irmnber (105,000) to be sent from the Sprmsifi- hi arm try, where they had accumu lated, to tive arseoaU, • m proponion to their respective meatM of proper storage." This ord< r was cai rie