Letter from Dora Giffen to her family, November 14, 1925

American Mission, Fayoum, Egypt.
Wednesday, November 14, 1925.

Dear Ones:
I am back in Fayoum again; came Tues. afternoon. Aunt Callie and Helen McCrimmon left on the 9:30 A.M. train for Alexandria and I boarded the 1:30 P.M. train for the other direction. It is the one thru train in the day from Cairo to the Fayoum. It makes it nice not to have to change at Wasta.

Susannah wrote me a note while I was in Cairo, wanting me to go with Aunt Callie as far as Tanta and stop off there for a day or two; but I had already been away from home too long. Ada Margaret had been quite sick the week before but was better. She does not seem a very strong child; she has so many little attacks of one thing and another. This time it was tonsilitis. The Hutchisons have been trying to get in a little visit to Cairo for more than a month, and have had to change their plans half a dozen different times because each time Ada Margaret was not well. Rosella seems in perfect health. They say she is getting sweeter than ever. I saw Mrs. Dr. Moore while I was in Cairo and she is not looking well.

By the way, I believe this is the day when Rastus Moores and the Gillespies land. Laura is anxious to see the Gillespies since they are bringing her some things from her mother. I have been enjoying the Muscoljuan and Enterprizes since I got home. So has Laura. Thank you very much for them all.

Aunt Callie had a big send-off at the station. Most of the Cairo Americans, with the exception of some of the S.O.S. people, were there, and quite a few Egyptians. Also many missionaries from other parts of Egypt. Committees and Boards were meeting in Cairo last Mon., Tues., and Wed., making estimates for the new year, etc. Association meets in Assiut the 2nd of January.

Did I tell you in my last letter that I saw Uncle Kelly and Auntie Grace in Cairo? I got several glimpses of them while they were there; ate supper at Alexanders with them one night. They left Mon. for Assiut and are soon going back to Khartoum.

I found a letter from Ralph McLaughlin here when I arrived on Tues. He said while he was home, he was at Hutchison, Kansas, giving an address one night. At the close of the 2) service a lady who was present gave him a little gift. She said she knew me and gave him five dollars for me, which he enclosed in his letter. The lady’s name is Margaret Stevenson. Is that Aunt Margaretta? At first I had not the slightest notion who Margaret Stevenson could be. I should write to her immediately, thanking her for her gift; however, I am going to wait until I hear from you, for I don’t want to call her “dear friend,” if she happens to be an aunt, you know.

Laura took charge of the schools in my absence, so everything was going along as usual. I have not been doing much since I returned, - a bad cold, gotten while in Cairo, had made me feel a bit under the weather. It is better now, I am thankful to say. I hope yours is, too.

A.A. Thompson spent a day or so in Fayoum and took breakfast yesterday morning with us. I found our new grate installed when I got back.

I must get busy answering your letters. That was quite a loss -the death of those cows. I hope it did not hit you too hard. Mother, I am perfectly willing to accept letters written in pencil, since you cannot well use carbon paper unless you do write with a pencil. I received a letter from Aunt Dora yesterday, the second one in two weeks, in which she said she had offered to write the weekly letter to me in order to save you somewhat since Grandma was sick. But I got my regular letter from you anyway. I am afraid letters are a burden to you. I think I’ll stop writging for the rest of my days in another eight months. (A little bit exaggerated, that.) I hardly expect to be able to leave here before the first of June and, since I want to go thru Europe, I probably won’t be home until July sometime. The date will depend on how long my money holds out. I haven’t saved a millieme, but ought to be able to do some saving from now on. I know one thing, I don’t want to see Cairo again this year. Everyone in Cairo seemed about as usual. Mrs. Hart has not been at all well; and I hear since coming back, that Mrs. Harvey had another little weak spell this week. When Grandma is sick, your burden is doubly heavy, I am afraid.

I was glad to get Father’s letter, telling about his trip to Seattle. Aunt Dora enclosed a letter to you from Ralph. I am returning this account of Helene’s wedding. Who was bridesmaid? Mr. D.’s sister? I suppose you did not get to go. Did you get an invitation?

Didn’t I name the twelve Muskingumites who “did” Port Said together? Miriam and Leander were too busy at customs to bother about us. We were Jane & Frances Martin, Agnes B., Janet Nesbitt, Lois Boid, Maude Miller, Susannah H., Wilma Mintier, Bernice Warne, Elizabeth Kelsey, Frances Patton, and I.

Now it’s dinner time. I have done quite a few things this morning and there are left a number to do yet, so I must say goodbye. Lots of love to you all.

I got to see the four new lady missionaries while I was at Mrs. Finleys. Of course I knew Alta French. Miss Estvadi is a splendid violinist.