Good broth consisted of "kitchen," barley, greens and lithing. Next to "kitchen" barley was the most expensive ingredient. Folks in Pogue's entry didn't always have it, but there were a number of cheap substitutes, such as hard peas or horse beans. Amongst half a dozen families in and around the entry there was a broth exchange. Each family made a few extra quarts and exchanged them. They were distributed in quart tin cans. Each can was emptied, washed, refilled and returned. Ann O'Hare, the chimneysweep's wife, was usually first on hand. She had the unenviable reputation of being the "dhirtiest craither" in the community. Jamie called her "Sooty Ann."
"There's a gey good smell from yer pot, Anna," she said; "what haave ye in it th' day?"
"Oh, jist a few sheep's throtters and a wheen of nettles."
"Who gethered th' nettles?"
Anna pointed to me.
"Did th' sting bad, me baughal?"
"Ded no, not aany," I said.
"Did ye squeeze thim tight?"
"I put m' Dah's socks on m' han's."
"Aye, that's a good thrick."