Oyster Crackers

1 quart of flour
3 Tb butter
1/2 tsp soda, dissolved in hot water
1 saltspoonful salt (sorry - donUt know the modern equivalent)
2 cups sweet milk

Rub the butter into the flour, or, what is better, cut it up with a
knife or cho pper, as you do in pastry; add the salt, milk, soda,
mixing well. Work into a ba ll, lay upon a floured board, and beat
with the rolling-pin half an hour, turnin g and shifting the mass
often. Roll into an even sheet, a quarter of an inch thick, or less,
pr ick deeply with a fork, and bake hard in a moderate oven. Hang them
up in a musl in bag in the kitchen for 2 days to dry.