Bean Soup

To one quart of beans add one teaspoon of soda, cover with water, let boil until the hulls will slip off, skim the beans out, throw them into cold water, rub with the hands, then remove the hulls; drain, and rub until all hulls are removed; take two quarts of water to one quart of beans, boil until the beans will mash smooth; boil a small piece of meat with the beans. If you have no meat, rub butter and flour together, add to the soup, pour over toasted bread or crackers, and season with salt and pepper. Add a little parsley, if desired.