SAGO DATE PUDDING

Two cupfuls breadcrumbs, 1 ½ cupfuls stoned dates, ¾ cupful sugar, 2 tablespoonfuls sago in 1 cupful milk, 1 tablespoonful butter, 1 teaspoonful carbonate of soda dissolved in a small quantity of hot water. Put sago in a cup, fill with milk, let soak an hour or two, beat butter and sugar to a cream, add other ingredients, then put in buttered basin and steam for 2 ½ hours.