Letter from Dora Giffen to her family, February 21, 1925

American Mission,
Fayoum, Egypt
Sat., February 21, 1925

My Own Dear Ones:

I have just risen from trying to get an afternoon nap. Some little creatures of the jumping variety made life too miserable for me to think about sleeping, so I have come to my desk.

Laura has just gotten back from a trip to an out-village called Tubhar. She and Sitt Miriam, the Bible-woman, went this morning in a taxi and came back on the Light Railway. Last Sabbath morning Mr. Galloway went to Tubhar and Sitt Miriam and I went along. Sitt Miriam’s sister lives there, so we had a little women's meeting in her house. The people of Tubhar are hard to reach. What made things even harder last Sabbath was the fact that Sitt Miriam's sister and her mother-in-law are quarreling. (I wouldn't blame anyone for not getting along with that mother-in-law. She gave us “hail Columbia” for not speaking to her as we passed through a dark hallway that I defy anyone to try to distinguish objects in which are more than an arm's-length away. I didn't pay much attention to the woman and her ravings.) Sitt Miriam Was a little wrought up over the situation, so today Laura went with her to try and clear matters up a bit. Laura does not think she succeeded, but doubtless she gave the poor, imposed upon sister a little needed encouragement.

Frank Henry was here at noon for a few minutes. He came up to go duck-hunting with Dr. Askren and while here was looking over our buildings. Their Vacuum Oil building is beside us here; I suppose he is doing some business there while he is up.

You speak of the cold weather you have been having. It has been quite cool here the past week or two. A fire in the fireplace in the evening always feels good, - altho it is warmer today. The fields around us are so nice and green these days. We are getting nasturtiums, sweet peas, and other flowers from our garden. A week ago, when some trees and plants arrived from Assiut, we took the good part of a morning off and tried to decide how the garden and grounds ought to look several years from now. Then the gardener took his spade and planted palm and acacia trees, also shrub cuttings, where we thought they ought to be. I am not a gardener and no practically nothing about plants, but this was rather fun.

Supper is over and we are sitting by the sitting room fire. Laura and some of the teachers and I played volley ball up on the roof before supper and got so warm we both thought it the part of wisdom to take cold showers afterwards; yet, with it all, we want a fire tonight.

The cement is on our new tennis court: it is being kept under water these days. We will be glad when we can use it.

Madam Aziz Bey sent us over quite a large basket of oranges and mandarins this week; then today Laura was given some more at Tubhar, which is in a well known fruit section. Oranges are so nice and sweet just now.

We meant to entertain the teachers yesterday afternoon, but one got sick and the nephew of another one died, so we called the tea off. Instead we asked S. Sikmat Samuel, a 1924 P.M.I. graduate, to come with her sister, for an afternoon of games and music. She came and brought with her a Greek, who knew French, no English, and a little bit of Arabic.

One day this week the two wives of a Mohammedan came to put the daughter of one of the wives in school. I thought the younger wife was the girl's sister at first but was soon corrected by the young wife.

I was so glad to get that snapshot of Mother and Martin. I wish you could send snaps oftener, but then you have not received any from me lately, I guess. I am filling up envelope space by enclosing a letter from Mrs. Reynolds received this week. Very much love from Dora.

Mary and Marshall are getting along nicely with their violin playing. I have practiced violin a little twice this week, the first this month. That is often for me.