Letter from Dora Giffen to her mother Frances Martin Giffen, March 5, 1925

American Mission,
Fayoum, Egypt
Thurs., March 5, 1925.

Mother Dearest:
I am just going to say Many Happy Returns to the Day tonight and then go to bed. Tomorrow I hope to have time to write and will tell you then what I have been doing today and for the few days passed. Goodnight. Sleep tight. Pretend you are getting your Birthday kisses.

Later: - It is Saturday night. I had several things to do yesterday and got no writing done. Yesterday afternoon was the time for the second Alumni meeting. This meeting was almost wholly a Bible lesson and only ten were present; however those ten were mostly all young women that we want to keep hold of. I guess I told you that Laura conducts the Bible Hour.

Last week I got no letter written. I think I told you once that I would probably be traveling to Cairo on your birthday but the wedding was set a week ahead of what Sara had at first planned. Synod Is this week and they wanted to get it over before Synod commenced. It did not suit the Girls’ College to have the wedding on Friday. So it was finally pulled off on Saturday, the 28 of Feb., Uncle Sam’s birthday. It was a very simple wedding and yet a beautiful one. The decorating was done by the Girls’ College teachers but don't ask me to describe it, except that apricot and peach blossoms were used profusely. I could not even describe Sara's dress after it was over. She looked very nice. However she and Livingston Gordon don't make a very well matched couple when together, because Sara is several inches taller than he is. I guess you knew before this that I don't think it is a very good match.

Miss Robertson of the Girls's College played the March, etc., for the wedding; Dora Mason was Bride’s Maid; Mr. Holcomb was Best Man; Mr. Elder gave the bride away; Mr. Boyd performed the ceremony; and Mr. Roy led in prayer. The ring ceremony was used. After it was over, we kissed the bride, and were served ice-cream and cake; also coffee. All the mission was invited, also some few Egyptians, but very few missionaries outside of Cairo attended. Laura meant to go when we received the invitation on Thurs., (Sara arrived in Port Said on Sabbath and the wedding was the following Saturday.) But her cold was a little worse on Fri., and she decided to stay at home. I, too, had a bad cold and cough, but I wanted to go and did.

Aunt Callie had told me to go there when I went down for the wedding, and here when I landed in on them Friday night I found them packing, ready to move. Aunt Callie and Mrs. McCrimmon stopped long enough to attend the wedding and then moved on Monday. I thought I would be more of a hindrance than a help if I stayed on while they moved, so when Harry Hutchison and Mrs. Bell insisted that Susannah wanted me to accompany them back down to Tanta in the Ford, I packed up my suitcase and went. Mr. and Mrs. Bell, Mr. Boyd, and Miss McMillan were in a Ford coupe, lately belonging to the Girls’ College but which Mr. Bell is selling for them. Following the coupe came Harry's car with Mrs. Smith, Miss M. Finney, Esther Wilson, and me. our car had two punctures on the way but with the help of Mr. Boyd and Mr. Bell we were soon on our way again both times. Susannah had some nice hot soup and cocoa ready for us when we got home at eleven o’clock that night. Bed felt good the next day. My cold was a little worse, so I just stayed in bed all day Sabbath. I am coughing yet but that day in bed seemed to break up the worst part of it. While I was in Tanta I was advised 2) that it was a good time for my medical examination which all missionaries, by action of last summer's Ass’n, are required to have at one of our two hospitals once a year. I stayed over an extra day and had mine but I am all right. Nothing wrong. This cold has just been making me a little miserable, because of a bad cough I have been having with it. I am almost over both by this time.

Ada Margaret and Rosella Are just as dear as ever. I will probably stay in the same mat house with Susannah this summer, since Harry must be in Tanta all the time, and I am looking forward to having a good time with the kiddies. I will, at all events, take my meals with the young ladies.

I visited the Girls’ School this time I was in Tanta and I guess everybody recognized me, altho Miss Louisa thought it a year and a half since I had left. Dinner Monday I took with Miss M. Finney. She has gotten her new house nicely furnished. Dinner on Tues. I had with the Bells. Then Mr. Boyd accompanied me up to Cairo on the 2:00 P.M. train on Tues. Mr. Roy was on the same train. They were on their way to Synod which is meeting in Cairo.

Mrs. Galloway is in Tanta hospital. She had a Shutz School Com. meeting with took her down to Alexandria over two weeks ago. On her way back she stopped at Tanta for her physical exam and they advised her to have one or two operations immediately. She was operated on a week ago today for appendicitis. Their maid here is looking after the two youngest nicely.

Miss Anna Y. Thompson las not been very well lately. She is better now but was in bed one day when I stopped and had a nice chat with her and Mrs. Harvey. Mrs. Harvey was at Sara’s wedding.

The Dr. Buchanans, who have been at Nasser, Sudan, this year have been having a time recently. While at Susannah’s I read a letter from Vera B. telling about a few of the things they were having to undergo. You heard of Mrs. Guthrie’s death from malaria, two weeks after her little baby was born? At the same time Dr. Buchanan was suffering from a badly infected eye (or eyes) and they did not know whether they would be able to save his sight or not. The nurse, too, had a badly infected finger. Buchanans were in Doleib Hill at the time. Since then a telegram has come to Egypt saying that the Buchanans are on their way down to sail immediately for America. I am anxious to get more definite word, for I fear that means that something is radically wrong. I do hope his sight will be saved.

After I reached Cairo on my way back from Tanta, I went to the Mission House and spent Tues. night with Wilma Mintier at the Adamses. Evelyn Mc. dropped in for an hour that same evening and we had a nice little chat. I found that Aunt Callie B. really needed some help on Wed., so I gave up all Wed. afternoon to helping her and Mrs. McCrimmon get further settled. They are very nicely situated now in their new flat. Another time I must tell you a little more of Mrs. McCrimmon. I spent Wed. night with Aunt Callie, shopped Thurs. morning, and came on to Tanta Thurs. afternoon. Found everything here all right and a nice Valentine from Aunt Dora’s four awaiting me. Mr. Galloway was on the same train from Cairo up but I did not know it until after I had reached the school. Must close now.

Much love from your own Dora.