Put the butter in a tin saucepan, set it on the fire, and when melted, turn into it the flour, thoroughly mixed with the milk; stir with a wooden spoon, boil gently for about twelve minutes, stirring the while; take off, turn into a bowl, add salt and sugar to taste, and use.
If wanted richer, an egg may be mixed with the flour and milk, or a yolk of egg may be added as soon as taken from the fire.
Hand-Book of Practical Cookery (1884).