John nodded his head He wished that his mother would finish sewing the new buttons on his coat He was nervous and in a hurry to be on his way to General Washington’s camp
Here John his mother said at last The new buttons look just like the old ones John took his coat He ran his fingers over the cloth-covered buttons He could not feel the small holes inside the buttons Secret messages for General Washington were hidden in those holes 9
If I am caught will anyone be able to read the messages John asked No answered his father I wrote them in a code that only thy brother Charles can read I wish I could give the buttons to General Washington himself John said Maybe someday thee will his mother said John carefully buttoned his coat Be careful his father warned The British are looking for American spies 10
If they catch thee it means prison or worse his mother said A shiver ran down John’s back 11
