Country Bean Soup

Ingredients

• For the Stock:
• 1
  large smoked ham hock
• 1
  large onion (quartered)
• 1
  large stalk celery (cut into 3-inch pieces)
• 1
  large carrot (cut into 3-inch pieces)
• 2
  bay leaves
• For the Soup:
• ½
  pound navy beans (dried; picked over)
• 1
  country ham steak (fat trimmed off)
• ½
  onion (coarsely chopped)
• ½
  small stalk celery (sliced into 1/4 inch thick rounds)
• 1
  small carrot (sliced into 1/4 inch thick rounds)
• 2
  tablespoons bacon drippings (or olive oil)
• 1
  tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 ½
  teaspoon rubbed sage
• 1 ½
  teaspoon salt
• ½
  teaspoon black pepper
• ½
  quart water (simmering)