Cream together a cup of butter and 2 of powdered sugar; beat into this 3 eggs, whipped light; stir in a teaspoonful each of powdered cloves and mace and ½ teaspoonful of soda dissolved in boiling water. Have 2 cups of fried and sifted flour, and work in cautiously. The dough should be just stiff enough to be rolled out. Cut into round cakes, stick a raisin in the center of each and bake in a brisk oven. Handle as little as possible in mixing and in rolling out.