Cream butter and sugar in mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Blend in molasses and egg. Beat well. In separate bowl, combine flour, ginger, cinnamon, allspice and cloves. Dissolve baking soda in water. Add flour and baking soda mixtures alternately to butter mixture. Blend well after each addition. Drop batter by rounded tablespoon onto lightly greased and floured (or foil lined) baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees until done, dozen to 15 minutes. Remove from baking sheets and cool on wire racks. Makes about 2 to 3 dozen cookies. Each of 3 dozen cookies contains about: 81 calories; 31 mg sodium; 13 mg cholesterol; 3 grams fat; 13 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram protein; 0.03 gram fiber. Presented by: Rose Dosti, L.A. Times Culinary SOS column, 0. 440205429200.3, page H24. This recipe has been around the Times for a long time. ----