The captain's daughter a short summary about Grinev. A brief retelling of the chapters of “The Captain’s Daughter” (Pushkin A.
Pushkin A.S. story “The Captain's Daughter”: Summary.
The narration is told from the first person of the main character of the story, Pyotr Andreevich Grinev, in the form of family notes.
Chapter 1. Sergeant of the Guard.
In this chapter, Pushkin introduces the reader to Pyotr Grinev. His family had 9 children. However, everyone died while still babies, and only Peter remained alive. Peter's father once served, but has now retired. Peter was enrolled before his birth in the Semenovsky regiment. While the boy was growing up, he was listed in his regiment as being on leave. The boy had an uncle Savelich, who raised him. He taught the boy Russian literacy and writing, and gave him knowledge about greyhounds. After a certain time, a Frenchman is sent to Petra as a teacher. The Frenchman's name was Beaupre. His duties included teaching the boy French and German, as well as providing education in other sciences. However, the Frenchman was more concerned about booze and girls. When Peter's father noticed the Frenchman's negligence, he kicked him out. At the age of 17, his father sent Peter to serve in Orenburg, although the young man hoped to serve in St. Petersburg. At the moment of instructions before leaving, the father told his son that he needed to take care of “ dress again, and honor from a young age"(Author's note: Subsequently, these words from the work Pushkin « Captain's daughter"became a catchphrase). Peter left his native place. In Simbirsk, the young man visited a tavern and there he met Captain Zurin. Zurin taught Peter to play billiards, and then got him drunk and won 100 rubles from Peter. Pushkin wrote that Peter “ behaved like a boy who had broken free". In the morning, despite Savelich’s active resistance, Grinev pays back the lost money and leaves Simbirsk.
Chapter 2. Counselor.
Grinev understood that he did the wrong thing when he arrived in Simbirsk. Therefore, he asked Savelich for forgiveness. During a storm, the travelers lost their way. But then they noticed a man, " intelligence and subtlety of instinct"were noticed by Peter and delighted. Grinev asked this man to accompany them to the nearest house that was ready to receive them. On the way, Grinev had a strange dream in which he returned to his estate and found his father dying. Peter asked his father for a blessing, but suddenly instead he saw a man with a black beard. Petya’s mother tried to explain who this person was. According to her, it was allegedly his imprisoned father. Then the man suddenly jumped out of bed, grabbed an ax and began to swing it. The room was filled with the dead. The man smiled at the young man and called for his blessing. Here the dream ended. Arriving at the place, Grinev took a closer look at the man who agreed to accompany them. This is how Pushkin described the counselor: “ He was about forty, average height, thin and broad-shouldered. There was a streak of gray in his black beard, and his big, lively eyes were darting. His face had a rather pleasant, but roguish expression. His hair was cut into a circle, he was wearing a tattered army coat and Tatar harem pants". A man with a black beard, i.e. The counselor was talking to the owner of the inn in an incomprehensible, allegorical language for Peter: “ He flew into the garden and pecked hemp; grandma threw a pebble, but missed". Grinev decided to treat the counselor to wine and gave him a hare sheepskin coat before parting, which again aroused Savelich’s indignation. In Orenburg, his father’s friend, Andrei Karlovich R., sent Peter to serve in the Belgorsk fortress, which was located 40 miles from Orenburg.
Chapter 3. Fortress.
Grinev arrived at the fortress and found it similar to a small village. The wife of the commandant of the fortress, Vasilisa Egorovna, was in charge of everything. Peter met the young officer Alexei Ivanovich Shvabrin. Shvabrin told Grinev about the inhabitants of the fortress, about the routine in it and in general about life in these places. He also expressed his opinion about the family of the commandant of the fortress and extremely unflatteringly about his daughter Mironova Mashenka. Grinev found Shvabrin not a very attractive young man. He was " short, with a dark and distinctly ugly face, but extremely lively". Grinev learned that Shvabrin ended up in the fortress because of a duel. Shvabrin and Grinev were invited to dinner at the house of commandant Ivan Kuzmich Mironov. The young people accepted the invitation. On the street, Grinev saw military exercises taking place. The commandant himself commanded the platoon of disabled people. He was " in a cap and a Chinese robe«.
Chapter 4. Duel.
Grinev began to visit the commandant’s family more and more often. He liked this family. And I liked Masha. He dedicated poems about love to her. Peter became an officer. At first he enjoyed communicating with Shvabrin. But his caustic remarks addressed to his beloved girl began to irritate Grinev. When Peter showed his poems to Alexei and Shvabrin sharply criticized them, and then allowed himself to insult Masha, Grinev called Shvabrin a liar and received a challenge from Shvabrin to a duel. Having learned about the duel, Vasilisa Yegorovna ordered the arrest of the young officers. The girl Palashka took their swords from them. And later Masha told Peter that Shvvabrin once wooed her, but she refused him. That is why Shvabrin hated the girl and threw endless barbs at her. After some time, the duel resumed. In it, Grinev was wounded.
Chapter 5. Love.
Savelich and Masha began to care for the wounded man. At that moment, Grinev decided to confess his feelings to Mashenka and propose to her. Masha agreed. Then Grinev sent a letter to his father asking him to bless him for marriage with the daughter of the commandant of the fortress. The answer has come. And from it it turned out that the father was refusing his son. Moreover, he learned about the duel from somewhere. Savelich did not report the duel to Grinev Sr. Therefore, Peter decided that this was the work of Shvabrin. Meanwhile, Shvabrin came to visit Peter and asked him for forgiveness. He said that he was guilty before Peter for everything that happened. However, Masha does not want to get married without her father’s blessing and therefore she began to avoid Grinev. Grinev also stopped visiting the commandant’s house. He lost heart.
Chapter 6. Pugachevism
The commandant received a letter from the general, which reported that the escaped Don Cossack Emelyan Pugachev was gathering a villainous gang and therefore it was necessary to strengthen the fortress. It was immediately reported that Pugachev had already managed to plunder several fortresses and hang officers. Ivan Kuzmich gathered a military council and asked everyone to keep this news secret. But Ivan Ignatievich accidentally spilled the beans to Vasilisa Yegorovna, who became a priest, and as a result, rumors about Pugachev spread throughout the fortress. Pugachev sent spies to Cossack villages with leaflets in which he threatened to beat up those who did not recognize him as sovereign and did not join his gang. And he demanded that the officers surrender the fortress without a fight. We managed to catch one of these spies, a mutilated Bashkir. The poor prisoner had no nose, tongue or ears. It was clear from everything that this was not the first time he had rebelled and that he was familiar with torture. Ivan Kuzmich, at Grinev’s suggestion, decided to send Masha from the fortress to Orenburg in the morning. Grinev and Masha said goodbye. Mironov wanted his wife to leave the fortress, but Vasilisa Egorovna firmly decided to stay with her husband.
Chapter 7. Attack.
Masha did not have time to leave the fortress. Under cover of night, the Cossacks left the Belogorsk fortress to go over to Pugachev’s side. There were a few warriors left in the fortress who were unable to resist the robbers. They defended themselves as best they could, but in vain. Pugachev captured the fortress. Many immediately swore allegiance to the robber, who proclaimed himself king. He executed commandant Mironov Ivan Kuzmich and Ivan Ignatievich. Grinev was supposed to be executed next, but Savelich threw himself at Pugachev’s feet and begged him to be left alive. Savelich even promised a ransom for the life of the young master. Pugachev agreed to such conditions and demanded that Grinev kiss his hand. Grinev refused. But Pugachev still pardoned Peter. The surviving soldiers and residents of the fortress went over to the side of the robbers and for 3 hours kissed the hand of the newly-crowned sovereign Pugachev, who was sitting in a chair on the porch of the commandant’s house. The robbers robbed everywhere, taking various goods from chests and cabinets: fabrics, dishes, fluff, etc. Vasilisa Yegorovna was stripped naked and taken out in public like that, after which she was killed. Pugachev was brought a white horse and he rode away.
Chapter 8. Uninvited guest.
Grinev was very worried about Masha. Did she manage to hide and what happened to her? He entered the commandant's house. Everything there was destroyed, looted and broken. He entered Marya Ivanovna’s room, where he met Broadsword hiding. From Broadsword he learned that Masha was in the priest’s house. Then Grinev went to the priest’s house. There was a drinking party of robbers in it. Peter called the priest. From her, Grinev learned that Shvabrin had sworn allegiance to Pugachev and was now resting with the robbers at the same table. Masha lies on her bed, half-delirious. The priest told Pugachev that the girl was her niece. Fortunately, Shvabrin did not reveal the truth to Pugachev. Grinev returned to his apartment. There Savelich told Peter that Pugachev was their former counselor. They came for Grinev, saying that Pugachev was demanding him. Grinev obeyed. Entering the room, Peter was struck by the fact that “ Everyone treated each other like comrades and did not show any special preference to their leader... Everyone boasted, offered their opinions and freely challenged Pugachev". Pugachev suggested singing a song about the gallows, and the bandits sang: “ Don't make noise, mother green oak tree...“When the guests finally left, Pugachev asked Grinev to stay. A conversation arose between them, in which Pugachev invited Grinev to stay with him and serve him. Peter honestly told Pugachev that he did not consider him a sovereign and could not serve him, because. once already swore allegiance to the empress. He also will not be able to fulfill his promise not to fight against Pugachev, because... this is his officer's duty. Pugachev was amazed by Grinev’s frankness and honesty. He promised to let Grinev go to Orenburg, but asked him to come in the morning to say goodbye to him.
Chapter 9. Separation.
Pugachev asks Grinev to visit the governor in Orenburg and tell him that in a week Emperor Pugachev will be in the city. He appointed Shvabrin commandant of the Belogorsk fortress, since he himself had to leave. Savelich, meanwhile, compiled a list of the lord's plundered property and submitted it to Pugachev. Pugachev, being in a generous state of mind, decided to give Grinev a horse and his own fur coat instead of punishment. In the same chapter, Pushkin writes that Masha was seriously ill.
Chapter 10. Siege of the city.
Grinev, having arrived in Orenburg, was sent to General Andrei Karlovich. Grinev asked to give him soldiers and allow him to attack the Belgorod fortress. The general, having learned about the fate of the Mironov family and that Captain's daughter remained in the hands of the robbers, expressed sympathy, but the soldier refused to give, citing the upcoming military council. Military Council, at which " there was not a single military man“, took place that same evening. " All the officials spoke about the unreliability of troops, about the unfaithfulness of luck, about caution and the like. Everyone believed that it was more prudent to remain under the cover of cannons behind a strong stone wall than to try the happiness of weapons in an open field.". Officials saw one way out in setting a high price for Pugachev’s head. They believed that the robbers themselves would betray their leader, tempted by the high price. Meanwhile, Pugachev kept his word and appeared at the walls of Orenburg exactly a week later. The siege of the city began. Residents suffered severely due to hunger and high prices. The raids of the robbers were periodic. Grinev was bored and often rode the horse given to him by Pugachev. One day he ran into a Cossack, who turned out to be the constable of the Belogorsk fortress, Maksimych. He gave Grinev a letter from Masha, which reported that Shvabrin was forcing her to marry him.
Chapter 11. Rebellious settlement.
To save Masha, Grinev and Savelich went to the Belogorsk fortress. On the way they fell into the hands of robbers. They were taken to Pugachev. Pugachev asked where Grinev was going and for what purpose. Grinev honestly told Pugachev about his intentions. They say he would like to protect the orphaned girl from Shvabrin’s claims. The robbers offered to cut off the heads of both Grinev and Shvabrin. But Pugachev decided everything in his own way. He promised Grinev to arrange his fate with Masha. In the morning, Pugachev and Grinev went in the same cart to the Belogorsk fortress. On the way, Pugachev shared with Grinev his desire to march on Moscow: “ ...my street is cramped; I have little will. My guys are smart. They are thieves. I have to keep my ears open; at the first failure they will ransom their neck with my head". While on the way, Pugachev managed to tell a Kalmyk fairy tale about a raven that lived for 300 years, but ate carrion, and about an eagle that preferred hunger to carrion: “ It's better to drink living blood«.
Chapter 12. Orphan.
Arriving at the Belogorsk fortress, Pugachev learned that Shvabrin mocked Masha and starved her to death. Then Puchev wished, on behalf of the sovereign, to marry Grinev and Masha immediately. Then Shvabrin told Pugachev that Masha was not the priest’s niece, but the daughter of Captain Mironov. But Pugachev turned out to be a generous man: “ execute, so execute, favor, so favor" and released Masha and Grinev.
Chapter 13. Arrest
Pugachev handed Peter a pass. Therefore, lovers could freely pass through all the outposts. But one day an outpost of imperial soldiers was mistaken for Pugachev’s, and this served as a reason for Grinev’s arrest. The soldiers took Peter to their superior, in whom Grinev recognized Zurin. Peter told his story to an old friend and he believed Grinev. Zurin suggested postponing the wedding and sending Masha, accompanied by Savelich, to her parents, and Grinev himself remaining in the service, as required by his officer’s duty. Grinev heeded Zurin’s proposal. Pugachev was eventually defeated, but not caught. The leader managed to escape to Siberia and gather a new gang. Pugachev was wanted everywhere. In the end he was caught. But then Zurin received an order to arrest Grinev and send him to the Investigative Commission in the Pugachev case.
Chapter 14. Judgment.
Grinev was arrested because of Shvabrin's denunciation. Shvabrin claimed that Pyotr Grinev served Pugachev. Grinev was afraid to involve Masha in this story. He didn't want her to be tormented by interrogations. Therefore, Grinev could not justify himself. The Empress replaced the death penalty with exile to Siberia only thanks to the merits of Father Peter. The father was depressed by what happened. It was a shame for the Grinev family. Masha went to St. Petersburg to talk with the Empress. It so happened that one day Masha was walking in the garden early in the morning. While walking, she met an unfamiliar woman. They started talking. The woman asked Masha to introduce herself and she replied that she was the daughter of Captain Mironov. The woman immediately became very interested in Masha and asked Masha to tell her why she came to St. Petersburg. Masha said that she came to the empress to ask for mercy for Grinev, because he could not justify himself in court because of her. The woman said that she visits the court and promises to help Masha. She accepted Masha’s letter addressed to the empress and asked where Masha was staying. Masha answered. At this point they parted. Before Masha had time to drink tea after her walk, a palace carriage drove into the courtyard. The messenger asked Masha to immediately go to the palace, because... the empress demands her to come to her. In the palace, Masha recognized the empress as her morning interlocutor. Grinev was pardoned, Masha was given a fortune. Masha and Peter Grinev got married. Grinev was present during the execution of Emelyan Pugachev. " He was present at the execution of Pugachev, who recognized him in the crowd and nodded his head, which a minute later, dead and bloody, was shown to the people«
That's how it is summary by chapter Pushkin's stories " Captain's daughter«
Good luck on your exams and A's on your essays!
Pushkin, having written this work, undoubtedly created a masterpiece that is successful even today. The story of valiant warriors defending the honor of the Motherland, despite all the twists of fate, always inspires respect.
You can fully experience the morals that reigned in Imperial Rus' by reading Pushkin's complete work or his short retelling. “The Captain's Daughter,” retold chapter by chapter, is an opportunity to significantly reduce the time that needs to be spent on reading. In addition, the reader gets to know the work without losing the original meaning of the story, which is an extremely important detail.
Chapter I - Sergeant of the Guard
You can learn about the most significant events from which this story originates by reading its brief retelling. “The Captain's Daughter” (Chapter 1) begins with a story about how the life of the parents of the main character, Pyotr Andreevich Grinev, turned out. It all started with the fact that Andrei Petrovich Grinev (the father of the main character), having retired as a prime major, went to his Siberian village, where he married a poor noblewoman, Avdotya Vasilyevna. Despite the fact that 9 children were born in the family, all of them, except for the main character of the book, Pyotr Andreevich, died in infancy.
While still in his mother's womb, the child was enrolled by his father in the Semenovsky regiment as a sergeant, thanks to the goodwill of one influential relative who was a major in the prince's guard. The father hoped that if a girl was born, he would simply announce the death of the sergeant who did not show up for duty, and the issue would be resolved.
From the age of 5, Peter was given to be raised by the eager Savelich, who was granted his uncle for his sobriety. By the age of 12, the boy not only knew Russian literacy, but also learned to understand the dignity of greyhounds. Considering his son old enough to further master the sciences, his father assigned him a French teacher from Moscow, Monsieur Beaupre, who was kind, but had a weakness for women and wine. As a result of this, several girls complained about him to the mistress, and he was expelled in disgrace.
One day, the father of the main character of the book, re-reading the Court Calendar, which he wrote out annually, saw that his subordinates had risen to high ranks, and decided that Peter needed to be sent to serve. Despite the fact that his son was initially enrolled in the Semenovsky regiment in St. Petersburg, his father decided to send him to the army as an ordinary soldier in order to protect him from a wild life. Having written a covering letter to Peter, he sent him, accompanied by Savelich, to his friend Andrei Karlovich in Orenburg.
Already at the first stop in Simbirsk, when the guide went shopping, Peter, bored, went to the billiard room, where he met Ivan Ivanovich Zurin, who served with the rank of captain. After it turned out that the young man did not know how to play billiards, Zurin, promising to teach him, declared at the end of the game that Peter had lost and now owed him 100 rubles. Since Savelich had all the money, Zurin agreed to wait for the debt and took his new acquaintance to entertainment venues, getting him thoroughly drunk.
In the morning, Peter was visited by a messenger boy with a letter in which Zurin demanded his money. Frightened by this behavior of his ward, Savelich decided that he needed to be taken away from the tavern as quickly as possible. As soon as the horses were supplied, Peter set off towards Orenburg, without even saying goodbye to his “teacher”.
Chapter II - Counselor
It is noteworthy that even a short retelling fully conveys the essence of the work written by Pushkin. “The Captain's Daughter” (Chapter 2) begins from the moment when Peter realizes the stupidity and recklessness of his behavior. He decides to make peace with Savelich, promising not to spend another penny without his knowledge.
We had to get to Orenburg through a snow-covered desert. After our heroes had covered most of the path, the coachman suggested turning the horses to their previous stop, as a snowstorm was approaching. Considering his fears unnecessary, Peter decided to continue the journey, just speeding up the horses in order to quickly get to the next stop. However, the storm began much earlier than they managed to get there.
Making their way through the snow drifts, they saw a road man in the snow who showed them the way to the nearest village. While they were driving, Peter fell asleep and had a terrible dream, as if, having arrived home, he found out that his father was dying. However, approaching the bed, instead of his father, he found a scary man there. Mother persuaded Peter to kiss his hand and receive a blessing, but he refused. Then the terrible man got out of bed, holding an ax in his hand, and the whole room was filled with corpses and blood. He was unable to see the dream through to the end, as he was awakened by Savelich, who reported that they had already arrived at the inn.
Having rested, Peter ordered to give them to yesterday's guide half a ruble, but after Savelich resisted, he did not dare to break the promise given to him and decided to give the guide his new hare sheepskin coat, despite all the dissatisfaction of his senior comrade.
Arriving in Orenburg, the young man went straight to the general, who looked like a real old man. Peter gave him a covering letter and his passport and was assigned to the Belgorod fortress under the command of Captain Mironov, who was supposed to teach him all the wisdom of war.
Analysis of the initial part of the story
Many will agree that one of the best creations that Pushkin created is “The Captain's Daughter”. A brief retelling of the work allows you to fully familiarize yourself with the story. At the same time, you will spend a minimum amount of time reading it.
What does the short retelling tell next? “The Captain’s Daughter” (Chapters 1 and 2) tells about how the gentleman’s son spent his comfortable childhood and youth, who begins to gradually comprehend the world through his own trial and error. Despite the fact that he does not yet have the proper life experience, the young man began to communicate with various people, recognizing their character traits, which are not always positive.
A brief retelling of the story “The Captain's Daughter” (Chapter 1) allows us to judge how much influence the parents had on their offspring, whose decisions were unquestioning and not subject to discussion. The second chapter shows the reader that the attitude towards people returns a hundredfold, because an ordinary sheepskin coat given to a poor man will in the future have a great influence on the fate of the main character.
Chapter III - Fortress
A brief retelling of the story “The Captain's Daughter” (Chapter 3) continues. Pyotr Grinev finally arrived at the Belgorod fortress, in which, however, he was greatly disappointed due to the lack of large-scale buildings. He saw only a small village, in the middle of which a cannon was installed. Since no one came out to meet him, he decided to ask the nearest old woman about where he needed to go, who, upon closer acquaintance, turned out to be the captain’s wife, Vasilisa Yegorovna. She kindly received Peter and, calling the constable, ordered to give him a good room. The hut in which he was to live was located on a high bank of the river. He lived in it together with Semyon Kuzov, who occupied the other half.
Getting up in the morning, Peter was struck by the uniformity of existence in the place where he was to spend many days. However, at this time a young man knocked on his door, who turned out to be officer Shvabrin, discharged from the guard for a duel. The young people quickly became friends and decided to pay a visit to Captain Ivan Kuzmich, who was caught training soldiers. He invited the young people to stay for lunch and invited them to go to his house. There they were kindly met by Vasilisa Egorovna, who introduced them to her daughter Maria Ivanovna, about whom Peter had a negative first impression. You can get a full sense of how these young people's relationship began to form by reading just a short recap.
“The Captain's Daughter” - a chapter-by-chapter retelling of the work - allows you to significantly speed up the time you need to spend reading. Pyotr Grinev immediately became a good candidate for a husband for Maria’s parents, and they in every possible way encouraged the development of such relationships, which at the initial stage did not develop very smoothly.
Chapter IV - Duel
A brief retelling of Chapter 4 of “The Captain’s Daughter” begins from the moment Peter began to settle into the fortress and received an officer’s rank. In the captain's house he was now accepted as family, and with Marya Ivanovna he began strong friendly relations, strengthening every day against the background of mutual sympathy.
Peter begins to become increasingly irritated by Shvabrin, however, since there was no other suitable interlocutor in the fortress, he continued to see him every day. One day, having heard a song composed by Peter, Shvabrin starts a squabble, as a result of which he imagines Maria as a fallen girl and challenges Peter to a duel. The young people decided to invite Lieutenant Ivan Kuzmich as a second. However, he not only refused, but also threatened to tell everything to the captain. Peter had difficulty in promising him to keep the future duel a secret. Despite this, on the day when the battle was supposed to take place, the young people were waylaid by Vasilisa Yegorovna, who, having taken away their swords, ordered them to make peace.
However, as it turned out, the skirmish did not end there. Maria Ivanovna told Peter that Shvabrin proposed to her several months before his arrival, and she refused him. That is why he tells unpleasant things about her person. The essence of this person can be examined in detail by reading a short retelling. “The Captain's Daughter” is a story in which people show, first of all, their true essence, which in normal times is hidden under the mask of visible goodwill.
Pyotr Grinev, not wanting to put up with this state of affairs, decides to punish the impudent man at all costs. The very next day after the conversation described above, a fight occurs between the former friends on the river bank, as a result of which the main character receives a blow with a sword in the chest, slightly below the shoulder.
Chapter V - Love
In this chapter, the reader can get acquainted with the love story, as far as a brief retelling allows. “The Captain's Daughter” is a work in which the main characters are not so much revolutionaries striving for power, but two young people who are sincerely in love with each other.
The fifth chapter begins from the moment Pyotr Grinev comes to his senses after being wounded just at the moment when the barber was bandaging him. Marya Ivanovna and Savelich did not leave his side until his health returned to normal. On one of these days, left alone with Peter, Mary dared to kiss him on the cheek. Peter, who had not previously hidden his feelings, proposed to her. Maria agreed, but they decided to wait and not tell their parents until the young man’s wound had completely healed.
Peter immediately wrote a letter to his parents in which he asked them to give him a blessing. Meanwhile, the wound began to heal, and the young man moved from the commandant’s house to his own apartment. Peter made peace with Shvabrin in the very first days, asking the kind commandant to release him from prison. Shvabrin, when released, admitted he was wrong and apologized.
Peter and Mary had already begun to make plans for their life together. They had no doubt that the girl’s parents would agree to the marriage, but the letter received from Peter’s father completely ruined their plans. He was categorically against this marriage, and Marya Ivanovna was against marriage without a blessing.
Staying in the commandant’s house after this news became a burden for Pyotr Grinev. The fact that Maria diligently avoided him drove the young man into despair. Sometimes he even thought that Savelich had told his father everything, which caused his displeasure, but the old servant refuted his assumptions by showing him an angry letter in which Andrei Petrovich Grinev threatened to subject him to the hardest work for not reporting what had happened on time. The good-natured old man tried to soften the anger of Andrei Petrovich Grinev, describing in his response letter not only the seriousness of Peter’s injury, but also the fact that he did not report it only because he was afraid to disturb the hostess, who fell ill after receiving this news.
Reading analysis
Having read the above text, the reader can be convinced that the entire meaning inherent in the work by Pushkin has been absorbed in this brief retelling. “The Captain's Daughter” (Chapters 1-5) completely reveals the world of the Russian Empire to the reader. For most people at that time, the concepts of honor and courage were inseparable, and Pyotr Andreevich Grinev mastered them to the fullest.
Despite the outbreak of love, the young people did not dare to disobey the will of their parents and tried, if possible, to stop communicating. It is safe to say that if it were not for the rebellion raised by Pugachev, their fate could have turned out completely differently.
Chapter VI - Pugachevism
The political and military situation in the Orenburg province was very unstable. After Ivan Kuzmich received a state letter informing about the escape of the Don Cossack Pugachev, the guards in the fortress became stricter. Rumors began to spread among the Cossacks, which could prompt them to revolt. That is why Ivan Kuzmich began to send scouts to them, informing him about the mood in their ranks.
After a very short period of time, Pugachev’s army began to gain strength, he even wrote a message to Ivan Kuzmich, in which he said that he would soon come to capture his fortress and invited everyone to come over to his side. The unrest was also intensified by the fact that the neighboring Nizhneozersk fortress was taken by Pugachev, and all the commandants who did not submit to him were hanged.
After this message, Ivan Kuzmich insisted that Maria be sent to her godmother in Orenburg under the protection of stone walls and cannons while the remaining people defended the fortress. The girl, who learned about her father’s decision, was extremely upset, and Peter, who saw this, returned after everyone had left to say goodbye to his beloved, promising never to forget her.
Chapter VII - Attack
The events discussed in this chapter are fully described by a brief retelling. “The Captain's Daughter” is a story that shows all the mental torment of the main character, torn between his homeland and his beloved, who is in danger.
The chapter begins with Peter unable to sleep the night before the battle. The news that Pugachev had surrounded the fortress and Maria Ivanovna did not have time to leave it took him by surprise. He hastily joined the people who were preparing to defend the building. Some of the soldiers deserted, and when Pugachev sent the last warning to the defenders of the fortress, there were very few of them left. Ivan Kuzmich ordered his wife and daughter to hide from the battlefield. Despite the fact that the defense of the fortress was heroic, Pugachev captured it without much difficulty, since the forces were unequal.
The face of the rebel taking the oath in the square seemed vaguely familiar to Peter, but he could not remember exactly where he had seen him. He immediately executed everyone who did not want to submit to the leader. What struck the main character most of all was when he saw Shvabrin in the crowd of traitors, who was trying his best to send Peter to the gallows.
Our hero, who was already standing in the noose, was saved by a lucky chance in the form of old man Savelich, who threw himself at Pugachev’s feet and asked for mercy for the master. The rebel pardoned the young man and, as it turned out, not in vain. It was Pugachev who was the very guide who led Peter and Savelich out of the snowstorm, and it was to him that the young man gave his hare sheepskin coat. However, Peter, who had not yet recovered from the first shock, was in for something new: Vasilisa Egorovna, stripped naked, ran out into the square, cursing the invaders, and when she saw her husband killed by Pugachev, she showered him with curses, in response to which he ordered her execution, and the young Cossack hit her saber to the head.
Chapter XIII - Uninvited Guest
You can fully feel the full degree of despair that gripped the main character by reading Pushkin’s complete work or his short retelling. “The Captain's Daughter” chapter by chapter (Pushkin) allows you to significantly speed up the reading time without losing the meaning of the story. This chapter begins with the following moment: Peter stands in the square and watches as the surviving people continued to swear allegiance to Pugachev. After this, the area is empty. Most of all, Pyotr Grinev was worried about the unknown fate of Maria Ivanovna. Inspecting her room, plundered by robbers, he discovered the maid Pasha, who reported that Marya Ivanovna had fled to the priest, where Pugachev was having dinner at that very moment.
Peter immediately went to her house and, having lured the priest, found out that in order to save Mary from the robbers, she called the girl her sick niece. A little reassured, Peter returned home, but was immediately summoned to an appointment with Pugachev. He was still sitting at the priest's side along with his closest officers. Pugachev, like Peter, was amazed at the vicissitudes of fate, which again brought their paths together, because, giving a sheepskin coat to his guide, Peter could not even think that one day he would save his life.
Pugachev asked again whether Peter would swear allegiance to him, but he refused and asked to be released to Orenburg. Since the rebel was in a good mood and was extremely pleased with Peter's honesty, he allowed him to leave the next day.
Chapter IX - Separation
In this chapter, the reader can become familiar with the robbery that Pugachev committed in Rus'. Even a short retelling conveys his actions fully. “The Captain's Daughter” is one of the first works that reveals the essence of that era. It shows without embellishment the robbery and devastation that reigned in the cities captured by the gangs of the self-proclaimed sovereign.
The ninth chapter begins with the fact that in the morning Pyotr Grinev comes to the square again. The people hanged the day before are still hanging in nooses, and the commandant’s body was simply carried to the side and covered with matting.
At this time, Pugachev, to the beat of drums, goes out into the street along with all his entourage, in whose ranks Shvabrin stood. Calling Peter to him, he allowed him to leave for Orenburg and announce to the governor that the generals there should prepare for his arrival and surrender in order to avoid bloodshed.
After that, he turned to the people and said that Shvabrin was now appointed commandant of the fortress, he must obey unquestioningly. Peter was horrified, realizing that Maria Ivanovna remained in the hands of a traitor who was angry with her, but so far he could not do anything.
Having made this statement, Pugachev was about to leave, but Savelich approached him with a list of stolen things. The leader, angry, drove him away, however, when Peter said goodbye to Marya Ivanovna, whom he already considered his wife, and he and Savelich moved a sufficient distance away from the fortress, they were caught up by a constable who gave them a horse and a fur coat. He also said that he was also carrying half of the money from their benefactor, which he lost on the road. Despite the fact that neither Peter nor Savelich believed his words, they still gratefully accepted the gift and set off towards Orenburg.
Analysis
The central part of the story allows us to conclude that the life of Pyotr Andreevich Grinev was constantly in danger due to his carelessness. After you analyze the shortest retelling, “The Captain’s Daughter” will no longer be presented as an amusement story, but as a work that should guide young people on the right path and protect them from reckless actions. This is what happened to Pyotr Grinev, who, thanks to his kind and honest disposition, was able to win the respect of even such an unprincipled person as Pugachev.
Chapter X - Siege of the City
After Peter finally arrived in Orenburg, he spoke at a special military meeting about how things were going in Pugachev’s army and the Belgorod fortress, and called for immediately sending troops to disperse the rioters, but his opinion was not supported. It was decided, for the benefit of the safety of the city residents, to withstand the siege, repelling enemy attacks, but the city was completely unprepared for it. Prices immediately rose to the maximum level, there was not enough food for everyone, and famine was brewing in Orenburg.
During this time, Pyotr Andreevich repeatedly made forays among the enemies, exchanging fire with Pugachev’s assistants, but the advantage was almost always on their side, since neither horses nor people experienced a shortage of food. On one of these forays, Peter caught up with a lagging Cossack and was about to kill him, when he recognized him as a police officer who had brought him a horse and a sheepskin coat when he and Savelich were leaving the Belgorod fortress. He, in turn, gave him a letter from Marya Ivanovna, which said that Shvabrin was forcing her to marry and, if she refused, would send her straight to Pugachev. She asked him for 3 days to think and begged Pyotr Andreevich to make every effort to save her, since besides him she no longer had close people. The young man immediately went to the governor of Orenburg, to whom he told about the state of affairs and asked to give him soldiers, promising to release the Belgorod fortress and Maria Ivanovna with them, but the governor refused him.
Chapter XI - Rebellious Freedom
Upset by the governor’s refusal, Peter returned to his apartment and asked Savelich to give him part of the hidden money, and to use the rest without hesitation for his own needs. He was preparing to go alone to the Belgorod fortress to save Marya Ivanovna. Despite such a generous gift, Savelich decided to follow him. On the way, they were stopped by Pugachev’s patrolmen, and, despite the fact that Peter managed to slip past them, he could not leave Savelich in their hands and returned back, after which he was also tied up and taken to Pugachev for interrogation.
Left alone with him, Peter asked to release the orphan girl whom Shvabrin was holding captive and demanding that she marry him. The angry Pugachev decided to personally go to the fortress and free the hostage.
Chapter XII - Orphan
When Pugachev drove up to the commandant's house, Shvabrin saw that Peter had arrived with him, he was scared, for a long time he did not want to show the girl to them, citing the fact that she was sick and in delirium tremens, and also that he would not allow strangers to enter the house. to his wife.
However, Pugachev quickly curbed his ardor, declaring that as long as he was the sovereign, everything would be as he decided. Approaching the room where Marya Ivanovna was kept, Shvabrin made another attempt to prevent visitors from visiting her, declaring that he could not find the key, but Pugachev simply knocked down the doors.
A sad sight greeted their eyes. Marya Ivanovna, pale and disheveled, was sitting in a simple peasant dress on the floor, and next to her lay a piece of bread and water. It turned out that the girl was not going to give Shvabrin her consent to the marriage, and his deception greatly angered Pugachev, who, however, being in a complacent mood, decided to pardon him this time. Peter, who once again risked resorting to Pugachev’s mercy, asked to be released with Marya Ivanovna on all four sides and, having received approval, began to prepare for the road. And Maria went to say goodbye to her murdered parents.
Chapter XIII - Arrest
A brief retelling of the story “The Captain's Daughter” allows us to assess the strength of Pugachev’s influence at that time. Thanks to the safe conduct that he issued to Pyotr Grinev, he and Maria passed through all the oncoming posts without any problems until they were captured by the sovereign’s soldiers, who mistook him for an enemy. Imagine Peter’s surprise when it turned out that the commander of the soldiers turned out to be Ivan Ivanovich Zurin, the same one to whom he lost 100 rubles in billiards. They decided to send Maria along with Savelich to Peter's parents. The young man himself had to stay and continue with Zurin the campaign against the robber Pugachev. Maria immediately agreed with his proposal, and old Savelich, being stubborn, agreed to accompany her and take care of her as his future mistress.
Peter began his duties in Zurin’s regiment and even received his first leave, which he intended to spend with his loved ones. But suddenly Zurin appeared at his apartment with a letter in which he ordered to arrest Peter, wherever he was, and to transfer him for investigation in the Pugachev case.
Despite the fact that the young man’s conscience was clear, and he was not afraid of being accused of a crime, the thought that he would not see his family and Maria for several more months poisoned his existence.
Chapter XIV - Judgment
A brief retelling of the work “The Captain's Daughter” (Chapter 14) continues with the fact that Peter was taken to Kazan, completely destroyed by Pugachev, in custody. He was chained as a criminal and the very next day they began to interrogate him with the participation of a commission. Peter indignantly rejected all the accusations and told the commission his version of the events that happened.
Despite the fact that the judges began to gain confidence in Peter’s story, after the speech of Shvabrin, who was also arrested and told the commission about Peter’s espionage activities for the benefit of Pugachev, his affairs, already unimportant, deteriorated significantly. Peter was taken to a cell and was no longer called in for interrogation.
The rumor of his arrest struck the entire family, who were imbued with sincere love for Marya Ivanovna. Andrei Petrovich Grinev received a letter from his relative in which he reported that the evidence of his son’s treason against the Motherland turned out to be too thorough, but thanks to his influence, it was decided to replace the execution with exile to Siberia.
Despite the fact that Peter’s relatives were inconsolable, Marya Ivanovna did not lose her presence of mind and decided to go to St. Petersburg in order to seek help from the most influential people. She arrived in Sofia and, stopping near the royal court, told one young lady her story, asking the empress to put in a good word for her. Despite the fact that at first the young lady did not believe her story, the more Maria Ivanovna told her the details, the more favorable the lady became towards her, promising to put in a good word for her before the empress.
As soon as the girl returned to her room, which she was renting, a carriage was brought to the house, and the chamberlain announced that the empress was demanding her to the court. Appearing in front of the empress, the girl recognized her as the same lady with whom she had recently spoken and asked for help, she gave her a letter to her future father-in-law and said that Peter would be completely acquitted. To celebrate, Marya Ivanovna immediately went to the village, not staying in St. Petersburg for a single day.
Let's sum it up
Many will agree that one of the best works that Pushkin wrote is “The Captain's Daughter.” A brief retelling of the previous chapters fully shows the hopelessness of the protagonist’s situation. Having managed to avoid most of the dangers and deliver his beloved to a safe place, under the protection of his parents, Pyotr Grinev finds himself in a very difficult situation, as a result of which he may be recognized as a traitor to the Motherland and even executed.
If it were not for the dedication of the young girl, who was not afraid to appear before the queen asking for mercy, the current situation for Pyotr Grinev would not have ended in the best way.
Epilogue
Reading a brief retelling of the story “The Captain's Daughter” chapter by chapter, we were able to fully understand the atmosphere of that time.
Despite the fact that the notes of Pyotr Andreevich Grinev end there, it is known that he was completely acquitted and released, was present at the execution of Pugachev and still married Maria Ivanovna, with whom he lived happily until his death, carefully keeping the queen’s letter sent to him to my father.
The whole essence of the story is conveyed regardless of whether you read the whole story or just a short retelling of it. "The Captain's Daughter", conveyed chapter by chapter, allows us to examine in detail how the life of the main character turned out, without prejudice to the meaning of the story. The selfless young man did not bow under the blows of fate, enduring with due courage all the misfortunes that befell him.
Without a doubt, the whole meaning that Pushkin put into his creation can be fully conveyed even in a very short retelling. “The Captain's Daughter” still remains a work that makes people proud. These are the heroes who faithfully serve their Fatherland.
“The Captain's Daughter” is a historical novel (in some sources a story) written by A.S. Pushkin. The author tells us about the origin and development of a great and strong feeling between a young noble officer and the daughter of the commandant of the fortress. All this happens against the backdrop of the uprising of Emelyan Pugachev and creates additional obstacles and difficulties in life for lovers.
The novel is written in the form of memoirs. This interweaving of historical and family chronicles gives it additional charm and charm, and also makes you believe in the reality of everything that is happening.
History of creation
In the mid-1830s, translated novels were gaining popularity in Russia. Society ladies were engrossed in Walter Scott. Domestic writers, and among them Alexander Sergeevich, could not stand aside and responded with their own works, including “The Captain’s Daughter.”
Researchers of Pushkin’s work claim that at first he worked on a historical chronicle, wanting to tell readers about the course of the Pugachev rebellion. Approaching the matter responsibly and wanting to be truthful, the author met with direct participants in those events, leaving for the Southern Urals specifically for this purpose.
Pushkin doubted for a long time who to make the main character of his work. First, he settled on Mikhail Shvanvich, an officer who went over to Pugachev’s side during the uprising. What made Alexander Sergeevich abandon such a plan is unknown, but as a result he turned to the format of memoirs, and placed a noble officer at the center of the novel. At the same time, the main character had every chance to go over to Pugachev’s side, but his duty to the Fatherland turned out to be higher. Shvanvich turned from a positive character into a negative Shvabrin.
For the first time, the novel appeared before the audience in the Sovremennik magazine in the last issue of 1836, and Pushkin’s authorship was not mentioned there. It was said that these notes belong to the pen of the late Pyotr Grinev. However, for censorship reasons, this novel did not publish an article about the peasant revolt on Grinev’s own estate. The lack of authorship resulted in the absence of any printed reviews, but many noted the “universal effect” that The Captain’s Daughter had on those who read the novel. A month after publication, the real author of the novel died in a duel.
Analysis
Description of the work
The work is written in the form of memoirs - landowner Pyotr Grinev talks about the times of his youth, when his father ordered him to be sent to serve in the army (although under the supervision of Uncle Savelich). On the way, they have one meeting that radically influenced their future fate and the fate of Russia - Pyotr Grinev meets Emelyan Pugachev.
Having reached his destination (and it turned out to be the Belogorsk fortress), Grinev immediately falls in love with the commandant’s daughter. However, he has a rival - officer Shvabrin. A duel occurs between the young people, as a result of which Grinev is wounded. His father, having learned about this, does not give his consent to marry the girl.
All this happens against the backdrop of the developing Pugachev rebellion. When it comes to the fortress, Pugachev’s accomplices first take the lives of Masha’s parents, after which they invite Shvabrin and Grinev to swear allegiance to Emelyan. Shvabrin agrees, but Grinev, for reasons of honor, does not. His life is saved by Savelich, who reminds Pugachev of their chance meeting.
Grinev fights against Pugachev, but this does not prevent him from calling the latter as an ally to save Masha, who turned out to be Shvabrin’s hostage. Following a denunciation from a rival, Grinev ends up in prison, and now Masha is doing everything to save him. A chance meeting with the empress helps the girl achieve the release of her lover. To the delight of all the ladies, the matter ends with the wedding of the newlyweds in Grinev’s parental home.
As already mentioned, the background for the love story was a great historical event - the uprising of Emelyan Pugachev.
Main characters
There are several main characters in the novel. Among them:
Pyotr Grinev, who at the time of the story had just turned 17 years old. According to the literary critic Vissarion Grigorievich Belinsky, this character was needed for an impartial assessment of the behavior of another character - Emelyan Pugachev.
Alexey Shvabrin is a young officer serving in the fortress. A freethinker, smart and educated (the story mentions that he knows French and understands literature). Literary critic Dmitry Mirsky called Shvabrin a “purely romantic scoundrel” because of his betrayal of the oath and defection to the side of the rebels. However, since the image is not written deeply, it is difficult to say about the reasons that prompted him to such an act. It is obvious that Pushkin’s sympathies were not on Shvabrin’s side.
At the time of the story, Maria had just turned 18 years old. A real Russian beauty, at the same time simple and sweet. Capable of action - in order to save her beloved, she goes to the capital to meet with the empress. According to Vyazemsky, she decorates the novel in the same way as Tatyana Larina decorated “Eugene Onegin”. But Tchaikovsky, who at one time wanted to stage an opera based on this work, complained that there was not enough character in it, but only kindness and honesty. Marina Tsvetaeva shared the same opinion.
From the age of five he was assigned to Grinev as an uncle, the Russian equivalent of a tutor. The only one who communicates with a 17-year-old officer like a small child. Pushkin calls him a “faithful serf,” but Savelich allows himself to express uncomfortable thoughts to both the master and his ward.
Emelyan Pugachev
Pugachev is, according to many critics, the most striking main figure in the work due to his coloring. Marina Tsvetaeva once argued that Pugachev overshadows the colorless and faded Grinev. In Pushkin, Pugachev looks like such a charming villain.
Quotes
“I lived as a teenager, chasing pigeons and playing leapfrog with the yard boys. Meanwhile, I was sixteen years old. Then my fate changed.”Grinev.
“How strange men are! For one word, which would surely be forgotten in a week, they are ready to cut themselves and sacrifice not only their lives, but also their conscience.”Masha Mironova.
“You were afraid, admit it, when my fellows threw a rope around your neck? I’m having tea, the sky seems like a sheepskin..." Pugachev.
“God forbid that we see a Russian rebellion, senseless and merciless.” Grinev.
Analysis of the work
Colleagues of Alexander Sergeevich, to whom he personally read the novel, made small comments regarding non-compliance with historical facts, while generally speaking positively about the novel. Prince V.F. Odoevsky, for example, noted that the images of Savelich and Pugachev were drawn out carefully and thought out to the smallest detail, but the image of Shvabrin was not finalized, and therefore it would be difficult for readers to understand the motives for his transition.
Literary critic Nikolai Strakhov noted that this combination of family (partially love) and historical chronicles is characteristic of the works of Walter Scott, the response to whose popularity among the Russian nobility, in fact, was Pushkin’s work.
Another Russian literary critic, Dmitry Mirsky, highly praised The Captain's Daughter, emphasizing the manner of narration - concise, precise, economical, yet spacious and leisurely. His opinion was that this work played one of the main roles in the development of the genre of realism in Russian literature.
The Russian writer and publisher Nikolai Grech, several years after the publication of the work, admired how the author managed to express the character and tone of the time about which he narrates. The story turned out to be so realistic that one could really think that the author was an eyewitness to these events. Fyodor Dostoevsky and Nikolai Gogol also periodically left rave reviews about this work.
Conclusion
According to Dmitry Mirsky, “The Captain's Daughter” can be considered the only full-length novel written by Alexander Sergeevich and published during his lifetime. Let us agree with the critic - the novel has everything to be successful: a romantic line that ends in marriage is a delight for beautiful ladies; a historical line that tells about such a complex and contradictory historical event as the Pugachev uprising will be more interesting to men; clearly defined main characters and set guidelines regarding the place of honor and dignity in the life of an officer. All this explains the popularity of the novel in the past and makes our contemporaries read it today.
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Take care of your honor from a young age.
Sergeant of the Guard
“If only he were a guard captain tomorrow.”
- That’s not necessary; let him serve in the army.
- Well said! let him push...
………………………………………………………
Who's his father?
My father, Andrei Petrovich Grinev, in his youth served under Count Minich and retired as prime minister in 17.... Since then, he lived in his Simbirsk village, where he married the girl Avdotya Vasilievna Yu., the daughter of a poor nobleman there. There were nine of us children. All my brothers and sisters died in infancy.
Mother was still pregnant with me, as I had already been enlisted in the Semenovsky regiment as a sergeant, by the grace of Guard Major Prince B., a close relative of ours. If, more than anything else, mother had given birth to a daughter, then the father would have announced the death of the sergeant who had not appeared, and that would have been the end of the matter. I was considered on leave until I finished my studies. At that time, we were not brought up in the traditional way. From the age of five I was given into the hands of the eager Savelich, who was granted my uncle status for his sober behavior. Under his supervision, in my twelfth year, I learned Russian literacy and could very sensibly judge the properties of a greyhound dog. At this time, the priest hired a Frenchman for me, Monsieur Beaupré, who was discharged from Moscow along with a year's supply of wine and Provençal oil. Savelich did not like his arrival very much. “Thank God,” he grumbled to himself, “it seems the child is washed, combed, and fed. Where should we spend extra money and hire monsieur, as if our people were gone!”
Beaupre was a hairdresser in his homeland, then a soldier in Prussia, then he came to Russia pour être outchitel, not really understanding the meaning of this word. He was a kind fellow, but flighty and dissolute to the extreme. His main weakness was his passion for the fair sex; Often, for his tenderness, he received pushes, from which he groaned for whole days. Moreover, he was not (as he put it) and the enemy of the bottle, that is (speaking in Russian) he liked to take a sip too much. But since we only served wine at dinner, and then only in small glasses, and the teachers usually carried it around, my Beaupre very soon got used to the Russian liqueur and even began to prefer it to the wines of his fatherland, as it was much healthier for the stomach. We hit it off immediately, and although he was contractually obligated to teach me in French, German and all sciences, but he preferred to quickly learn from me how to chat in Russian, and then each of us went about our own business. We lived in perfect harmony. I didn't want any other mentor. But soon fate separated us, and for this reason.
The washerwoman Palashka, a fat and pockmarked girl, and the crooked cowwoman Akulka somehow agreed at the same time to throw themselves at mother’s feet, blaming themselves for their criminal weakness and complaining with tears about the monsieur who had seduced their inexperience. Mother didn’t like to joke about this and complained to the priest. His reprisal was short. He immediately demanded the Frenchman's channel. They reported that Monsieur was giving me his lesson. Father went to my room. At this time, Beaupre was sleeping on the bed in the sleep of innocence. I was busy with business. You need to know that a geographical map was issued for me from Moscow. It hung on the wall without any use and had long tempted me with the width and goodness of the paper. I decided to make snakes out of it and, taking advantage of Beaupre’s sleep, I set to work. Father came in at the same time as I was adjusting the bast tail to the Cape of Good Hope. Seeing my exercises in geography, the priest pulled me by the ear, then ran up to Beaupre, woke him up very carelessly and began to shower him with reproaches. Beaupre, in confusion, wanted to get up but could not: the unfortunate Frenchman was dead drunk. Seven troubles, one answer. Father lifted him out of bed by the collar, pushed him out of the door and drove him out of the yard that same day, to Savelich’s indescribable joy. That was the end of my upbringing.
I lived as a teenager, chasing pigeons and playing leapfrog with the yard boys. Meanwhile, I was sixteen years old. Then my fate changed.
One autumn, my mother was making honey jam in the living room, and I, licking my lips, looked at the seething foam. Father at the window was reading the Court Calendar, which he receives every year. This book always had a strong influence on him: he never re-read it without special participation, and reading this always produced in him an amazing excitement of bile. Mother, who knew by heart all his habits and customs, always tried to shove the unfortunate book as far away as possible, and thus the Court Calendar did not catch his eye sometimes for entire months. But when he found it by chance, he would not let it out of his hands for hours at a time. So, the priest read the Court Calendar, occasionally shrugging his shoulders and repeating in a low voice: “Lieutenant General!.. He was a sergeant in my company!.. He was a holder of both Russian orders!.. How long ago have we…” Finally, the priest threw the calendar on the sofa and plunged into reverie, which did not bode well.
Suddenly he turned to his mother: “Avdotya Vasilyevna, how old is Petrusha?”
“Yes, now I’m seventeen years old,” answered my mother. “Petrusha was born in the same year that Aunt Nastasya Gerasimovna became sad, and when else...
“Okay,” interrupted the priest, “it’s time for him to go into service. It’s enough for him to run around the maidens and climb dovecotes.”
The thought of imminent separation from me struck my mother so much that she dropped the spoon into the saucepan and tears streamed down her face. On the contrary, it is difficult to describe my admiration. The thought of service merged in me with thoughts of freedom, of the pleasures of St. Petersburg life. I imagined myself as a guard officer, which, in my opinion, was the height of human well-being.
Father did not like to change his intentions or postpone their implementation. The day for my departure was set. The day before, the priest announced that he intended to write with me to my future boss, and demanded pen and paper.
“Don’t forget, Andrei Petrovich,” said mother, “to bow to Prince B. for me; I, they say, hope that he will not abandon Petrusha with his favors.
- What nonsense! - answered the priest, frowning. - Why on earth would I write to Prince B.?
- But you said that you would like to write to Petrusha’s boss.
- Well, what’s there?
- But the chief Petrushin is Prince B. After all, Petrusha is enrolled in the Semenovsky regiment.
- Recorded by! Why do I care that it’s recorded? Petrusha will not go to St. Petersburg. What will he learn while serving in St. Petersburg? hang out and hang out? No, let him serve in the army, let him pull the strap, let him smell gunpowder, let him be a soldier, not a chamaton. Enlisted in the Guard! Where is his passport? give it here.
Mother found my passport, which was kept in her box along with the shirt in which I was baptized, and handed it to the priest with a trembling hand. Father read it with attention, placed it on the table in front of him and began his letter.
Curiosity tormented me: where are they sending me, if not to St. Petersburg? I didn’t take my eyes off Father’s pen, which was moving quite slowly. Finally he finished, sealed the letter in the same bag with his passport, took off his glasses and, calling me, said: “Here is a letter for you to Andrei Karlovich R., my old comrade and friend. You are going to Orenburg to serve under his command.”
So, all my bright hopes were dashed! Instead of a cheerful life in St. Petersburg, boredom awaited me in a remote and remote place. The service, which I had been thinking about with such delight for a minute, seemed to me like a grave misfortune. But there was no point in arguing! The next day, in the morning, a road wagon was brought to the porch; They packed it with a suitcase, a cellar with a tea set, and bundles of buns and pies, the last signs of home pampering. My parents blessed me. Father told me: “Goodbye, Peter. Serve faithfully to whom you pledge allegiance; obey your superiors; Don’t chase their affection; don’t ask for service; do not dissuade yourself from serving; and remember the proverb: take care of your dress again, but take care of your honor from a young age.” Mother, in tears, ordered me to take care of my health and Savelich to look after the child. They put a hare sheepskin coat on me, and a fox fur coat on top. I got into the wagon with Savelich and set off on the road, shedding tears.
That same night I arrived in Simbirsk, where I was supposed to stay for a day to purchase the necessary things, which was entrusted to Savelich. I stopped at a tavern. Savelich went to the shops in the morning. Bored of looking out the window at the dirty alley, I went to wander through all the rooms. Entering the billiard room, I saw a tall gentleman, about thirty-five, with a long black mustache, in a dressing gown, with a cue in his hand and a pipe in his teeth. He played with a marker, who, when he won, drank a glass of vodka, and when he lost, he had to crawl under the billiards on all fours. I started watching them play. The longer it went on, the more frequent the walks on all fours became, until finally the marker remained under the billiards. The master uttered several strong expressions over him in the form of a funeral word and invited me to play a game. I refused out of incompetence. This apparently seemed strange to him. He looked at me as if with regret; however, we started talking. I found out that his name is Ivan Ivanovich Zurin, that he is the captain of the ** hussar regiment and is in Simbirsk receiving recruits, and is standing in a tavern. Zurin invited me to dine with him as God sent, like a soldier. I readily agreed. We sat down at the table. Zurin drank a lot and treated me too, saying that I needed to get used to the service; he told me army jokes that almost made me laugh, and we left the table perfect friends. Then he volunteered to teach me to play billiards. “This,” he said, “is necessary for our serving brother. On a hike, for example, you come to a place - what do you want to do? After all, it’s not all about beating the Jews. Involuntarily, you will go to a tavern and start playing billiards; and for that you need to know how to play!” I was completely convinced and began to study with great diligence. Zurin loudly encouraged me, marveled at my quick successes and, after several lessons, invited me to play for money, one penny at a time, not to win, but so as not to play for nothing, which, according to him, is the worst habit. I agreed to this too, and Zurin ordered punch to be served and persuaded me to try, repeating that I needed to get used to the service; and without punch, what is the service! I listened to him. Meanwhile, our game continued. The more often I sipped from my glass, the more courageous I became. Balloons were constantly flying over my side; I got excited, scolded the marker, who counted God knows how, increased the game hour by hour, in a word, I behaved like a boy who had broken free. Meanwhile, time passed unnoticed. Zurin looked at his watch, put down his cue and announced to me that I had lost a hundred rubles. This confused me a little. Savelich had my money. I started apologizing. Zurin interrupted me: “Have mercy! Don't worry. I can wait, but in the meantime we’ll go to Arinushka.”
What do you want? I ended the day as dissolutely as I started it. We had dinner at Arinushka's. Zurin kept adding more to me every minute, repeating that I needed to get used to the service. Getting up from the table, I could barely stand; at midnight Zurin took me to the tavern.
Savelich met us on the porch. He gasped when he saw the unmistakable signs of my zeal for service. “What has happened to you, sir? - he said in a pitiful voice, - where did you load this? Oh my goodness! Such a sin has never happened in my life!” - “Be quiet, you bastard! “I answered him, stuttering, “you’re probably drunk, go to bed... and put me to bed.”
The next day I woke up with a headache, vaguely remembering yesterday’s incidents. My thoughts were interrupted by Savelich, who came to me with a cup of tea. “It’s early, Pyotr Andreich,” he told me, shaking his head, “you start walking early. And who did you go to? It seems that neither the father nor the grandfather were drunkards; There’s nothing to say about my mother: from her childhood she never deigned to take anything into her mouth except kvass. And who is to blame for everything? damn monsieur. Every now and then, he would run to Antipyevna: “Madam, wow, vodka.” So much for you! There is nothing to say: he taught me good things, son of a dog. And it was necessary to hire an infidel as an uncle, as if the master no longer had his own people!”
I was ashamed. I turned away and told him: “Get out, Savelich; I don’t want tea.” But it was difficult to calm Savelich down when he started preaching. “You see, Pyotr Andreich, what it’s like to cheat. And my head feels heavy, and I don’t want to eat. A person who drinks is good for nothing... Drink cucumber pickle with honey, but it would be better to get over your hangover with half a glass of tincture. Won't you give me an order?"
At this time, the boy came in and gave me a note from I.I. Zurin. I unfolded it and read the following lines:
...“Dear Pyotr Andreevich, please send me and my boy the hundred rubles that you lost to me yesterday. I am in dire need of money.
Ready for service
Ivan Zurin."
There was nothing to do. I assumed an indifferent look and, turning to Savelich, who was and money, and linen, and my affairs, a steward, ordered to give the boy one hundred rubles. "How! For what?" – asked the amazed Savelich. “I owe them to him,” I answered with all possible coldness. "Must! - Savelich objected, more and more astonished from time to time, - but when, sir, did you manage to owe him? Something is wrong. It’s your will, sir, but I won’t give you any money.”
I thought that if at this decisive moment I did not overcome the stubborn old man, then in the future it would be difficult for me to free myself from his tutelage, and, looking at him proudly, I said: “I am your master, and you are my servant. The money is mine. I lost them because I felt like it. And I advise you not to be smart and do what you are ordered.”
Savelich was so amazed by my words that he clasped his hands and was dumbfounded. “Why are you standing there!” – I shouted angrily. Savelich began to cry. “Father Pyotr Andreich,” he said in a trembling voice, “don’t kill me with sadness. You are my light! listen to me, old man: write to this robber that you were joking, that we don’t even have that kind of money. One hundred rubles! God you are merciful! Tell me that your parents firmly ordered you not to play, except like nuts...” - “Stop lying,” I interrupted sternly, “give me the money here or I’ll drive you away.”
Savelich looked at me with deep sorrow and went to collect my debt. I felt sorry for the poor old man; but I wanted to break free and prove that I was no longer a child. The money was delivered to Zurin. Savelich hastened to take me out of the damned tavern. He came with the news that the horses were ready. With an uneasy conscience and silent repentance, I left Simbirsk, without saying goodbye to my teacher and without thinking of ever seeing him again.
Is it my side, my side,
Unfamiliar side!
Was it not I who came upon you?
Wasn’t it a good horse that brought me:
She brought me, good fellow,
Agility, good cheerfulness
And the tavern's hop drink.
Old song
My thoughts on the road were not very pleasant. My loss, at the prices at that time, was significant. I could not help but admit in my heart that my behavior in the Simbirsk tavern was stupid, and I felt guilty before Savelich. All this tormented me. The old man sat gloomily on the bench, turned away from me, and was silent, only quacking occasionally. I definitely wanted to make peace with him and didn’t know where to start. Finally I told him: “Well, well, Savelich! that's enough, let's make peace, it's my fault; I see for myself that I am guilty. Yesterday I misbehaved, and I wronged you in vain. I promise to behave smarter and obey you in the future. Well, don't be angry; let's make peace."
- Eh, Father Pyotr Andreich! - he answered with a deep sigh. – I’m angry with myself; It's all my fault. How could I have left you alone in the tavern! What to do? I was confused by sin: I decided to wander into the sacristan’s house and see my godfather. That's it: I went to see my godfather and ended up in prison. Trouble and nothing more! How will I show myself to the gentlemen? what will they say when they find out that the child is drinking and playing?
To console poor Savelich, I gave him my word that in future I would not dispose of a single penny without his consent. He gradually calmed down, although he still occasionally grumbled to himself, shaking his head: “A hundred rubles! Isn’t it easy!”
I was approaching my destination. Around me stretched sad deserts, intersected by hills and ravines. Everything was covered with snow. The sun was setting. The carriage was driving along a narrow road, or more precisely along a trail made by peasant sleighs. Suddenly the driver began to look to the side and, finally, taking off his hat, turned to me and said: “Master, would you order me to turn back?”
- What is this for?
– Time is unreliable: the wind rises slightly; see how it sweeps away the powder.
- What a problem!
– Do you see what there? (The coachman pointed his whip to the east.)
“I see nothing but the white steppe and the clear sky.”
- And there - there: this is a cloud.
I actually saw a white cloud at the edge of the sky, which at first I took for a distant hill. The driver explained to me that the cloud foreshadowed a snowstorm.
I heard about the blizzards there and knew that entire convoys were covered in them. Savelich, in agreement with the driver’s opinion, advised him to turn back. But the wind did not seem strong to me; I hoped to get to the next station in time and ordered to go quickly.
The coachman galloped off; but kept looking to the east. The horses ran together. Meanwhile, the wind became stronger hour by hour. The cloud turned into a white cloud, which rose heavily, grew and gradually covered the sky. It began to snow lightly and suddenly began to fall in flakes. The wind howled; there was a snowstorm. In an instant, the dark sky mixed with the snowy sea. Everything has disappeared. “Well, master,” the coachman shouted, “trouble: a snowstorm!..”
I looked out of the wagon: everything was darkness and whirlwind. The wind howled with such ferocious expressiveness that it seemed animated; the snow covered me and Savelich; the horses walked at a pace - and soon stopped. “Why aren’t you going?” – I asked the driver impatiently. “Why go? - he answered, getting off the bench, - God knows where we ended up: there is no road, and there is darkness all around. I started to scold him. Savelich stood up for him: “And I would have disobeyed,” he said angrily, “I would have returned to the inn, had some tea, rested until the morning, the storm would have subsided, and we would have moved on. And where are we rushing? You’d be welcome to the wedding!” Savelich was right. There was nothing to do. The snow was still falling. A snowdrift was rising near the wagon. The horses stood with their heads down and occasionally shuddering. The coachman walked around, having nothing better to do, adjusting the harness. Savelich grumbled; I looked in all directions, hoping to see at least a sign of a vein or a road, but I could not discern anything except the muddy whirling of a snowstorm... Suddenly I saw something black. “Hey, coachman! - I shouted, “look: what’s black there?” The coachman began to peer closely. “God knows, master,” he said, sitting down in his place, “a cart is not a cart, a tree is not a tree, but it seems that it is moving. It must be either a wolf or a man." I ordered to go towards an unfamiliar object, which immediately began to move towards us. Two minutes later we caught up with the man. “Hey, good man! - the coachman shouted to him. “Tell me, do you know where the road is?”
- The road is here; “I’m standing on a solid strip,” answered the roadie, “but what’s the point?”
“Listen, little man,” I told him, “do you know this side?” Will you undertake to take me to my lodging for the night?
“The side is familiar to me,” answered the traveler, “thank God, it’s well-trodden and traveled far and wide.” Look what the weather is like: you’ll just lose your way. It’s better to stop here and wait, maybe the storm will subside and the sky will clear: then we’ll find our way by the stars.
His composure encouraged me. I had already decided, surrendering myself to God’s will, to spend the night in the middle of the steppe, when suddenly the roadman quickly sat down on the beam and said to the coachman: “Well, thank God, he lived not far away; turn right and go."
- Why should I go to the right? – the driver asked with displeasure. -Where do you see the road? Probably: the horses are strangers, the collar is not yours, don’t stop driving. “The coachman seemed right to me.” “Really,” I said, “why do you think that they lived not far away?” “But because the wind pulled away from here,” answered the roadman, “and I hear the smell of smoke; know the village is close." His intelligence and subtlety of instinct amazed me. I told the coachman to go. The horses tramped heavily through the deep snow. The wagon moved quietly, now driving onto a snowdrift, now collapsing into a ravine and rolling over to one side or the other. It was like sailing a ship on a stormy sea. Savelich groaned, constantly pushing against my sides. I lowered the mat, wrapped myself in a fur coat and dozed off, lulled by the singing of the storm and the rolling of the quiet ride.
I had a dream that I could never forget and in which I still see something prophetic when I consider the strange circumstances of my life with it. The reader will excuse me: for he probably knows from experience how human it is to indulge in superstition, despite all possible contempt for prejudice.
I was in that state of feelings and soul when materiality, yielding to dreams, merges with them in the unclear visions of first sleep. It seemed to me that the storm was still raging and we were still wandering through the snowy desert... Suddenly I saw a gate and drove into the manor’s courtyard of our estate. My first thought was the fear that my father would be angry with me for my involuntary return to my parents’ roof and would consider it deliberate disobedience. With anxiety, I jumped out of the wagon and saw: mother met me on the porch with an appearance of deep grief. “Hush,” she tells me, “your father is dying and wants to say goodbye to you.” Struck with fear, I follow her into the bedroom. I see the room is dimly lit; there are people with sad faces standing by the bed. I quietly approach the bed; Mother lifts the curtain and says: “Andrei Petrovich, Petrusha has arrived; he returned after learning about your illness; bless him." I knelt down and fixed my eyes on the patient. Well?.. Instead of my father, I see a man with a black beard lying in bed, looking at me cheerfully. I turned to my mother in bewilderment, telling her: “What does this mean? This is not father. And why should I ask for a man’s blessing?” “It doesn’t matter, Petrusha,” my mother answered me, “this is your imprisoned father; kiss his hand and may he bless you...” I did not agree. Then the man jumped out of bed, grabbed the ax from behind his back and began swinging it in all directions. I wanted to run... and couldn’t; the room was filled with dead bodies; I stumbled over bodies and slid in bloody puddles... The scary man called me affectionately, saying: “Don’t be afraid, come under my blessing...” Horror and bewilderment took possession of me... And at that moment I woke up; the horses stood; Savelich tugged at my hand, saying: “Come out, sir: we’ve arrived.”
-Where have you arrived? – I asked, rubbing my eyes.
- To the inn. The Lord helped, we ran straight into a fence. Come out, sir, quickly and warm yourself up.
I left the wagon. The storm still continued, although with less force. It was so dark that you could put out your eyes. The owner met us at the gate, holding a lantern under his skirt, and led me into the room, cramped, but quite clean; a torch illuminated her. A rifle and a tall Cossack hat hung on the wall.
The owner, a Yaik Cossack by birth, seemed to be a man of about sixty, still fresh and vigorous. Savelich brought the cellar behind me and demanded a fire to prepare tea, which I never seemed to need so much. The owner went to do some work.
- Where is the counselor? – I asked Savelich. “Here, your honor,” the voice from above answered me. I looked at the Polati and saw a black beard and two sparkling eyes. “What, brother, are you cold?” - “How not to vegetate in one skinny armyak! There was a sheepskin coat, but let’s be honest? I laid the evening at the kisser’s: the frost did not seem too great.” At that moment the owner came in with a boiling samovar; I offered our counselor a cup of tea; the man got off the floor. His appearance seemed remarkable to me: he was about forty, average height, thin and broad-shouldered. His black beard showed streaks of gray; the lively big eyes kept darting around. His face had a rather pleasant, but roguish expression. The hair was cut into a circle; he was wearing a tattered overcoat and Tatar trousers. I brought him a cup of tea; he tasted it and winced. “Your Honor, do me such a favor - order me to bring a glass of wine; tea is not our Cossack drink.” I willingly fulfilled his wish. The owner took a damask and a glass out of the stall, walked up to him and, looking into his face: “Ehe,” he said, “you’re in our land again!” Where did God bring it?” My counselor blinked significantly and answered with a saying: “He flew into the garden, pecked hemp; Grandmother threw a pebble - yes, it missed. Well, what about yours?
- Yes, ours! - the owner answered, continuing the allegorical conversation. “They started ringing for vespers, but the priest didn’t say: the priest is visiting, the devils are in the graveyard.”
“Be quiet, uncle,” my tramp objected, “there will be rain, there will be fungi; and if there are fungi, there will be a body. And now (here he blinked again) put the ax behind your back: the forester is walking. Your honor! For your health!" - With these words, he took the glass, crossed himself and drank in one breath. Then he bowed to me and returned to the floor.
I couldn’t understand anything from this thieves’ conversation at the time; but later I realized that it was about the affairs of the Yaitsky army, which at that time had just been pacified after the riot of 1772. Savelich listened with an air of great displeasure. He looked with suspicion first at the owner, then at the counselor. Inn, or, in the local language, able, was located on the side, in the steppe, far from any settlement, and very much looked like a robber's haven. But there was nothing to do. It was impossible to even think about continuing the journey. Savelich's anxiety amused me very much. Meanwhile, I settled down for the night and lay down on a bench. Savelich decided to go to the stove; the owner lay down on the floor. Soon the whole hut was snoring, and I fell asleep like the dead.
Waking up quite late in the morning, I saw that the storm had subsided. The sun was shining. The snow lay in a dazzling veil on the vast steppe. The horses were harnessed. I paid the owner, who took such a reasonable payment from us that even Savelich did not argue with him and did not bargain as usual, and yesterday’s suspicions were completely erased from his mind. I called the counselor, thanked him for his help and told Savelich to give him half a ruble for vodka. Savelich frowned. “Half a ruble for vodka! - he said, - what is this for? Because you deigned to give him a ride to the inn? It's your choice, sir: we don't have any extra fifty. If you give everyone vodka, you’ll soon have to starve.” I couldn't argue with Savelich. The money, according to my promise, was at his complete disposal. I was annoyed, however, that I could not thank the person who rescued me, if not from trouble, then at least from a very unpleasant situation. “Okay,” I said coolly, “if you don’t want to give half a rouble, then take him something from my dress. He is dressed too lightly. Give him my hare sheepskin coat."
- Have mercy, Father Pyotr Andreich! - said Savelich. - Why does he need your hare sheepskin coat? He will drink it, the dog, in the first tavern.
“This, old lady, is not your sadness,” said my tramp, “whether I drink or not.” His nobility grants me a fur coat from his shoulder: it is his lordly will, and it is your serf’s business not to argue and obey.
- You are not afraid of God, robber! - Savelich answered him in an angry voice. “You see that the child doesn’t understand yet, and you’re glad to rob him, for the sake of his simplicity.” Why do you need a master's sheepskin coat? You won’t even put it on your damned shoulders.
“Please don’t be smart,” I told my uncle, “now bring the sheepskin coat here.”
- Lord, master! - my Savelich moaned. – The hare sheepskin coat is almost brand new! and it would be good for anyone, otherwise it’s a naked drunkard!
However, the hare sheepskin coat appeared. The man immediately began trying it on. In fact, the sheepskin coat that I had grown out of was a little narrow for him. However, he somehow managed to put it on, tearing it apart at the seams. Savelich almost howled when he heard the threads crackle. The tramp was extremely pleased with my gift. He walked me to the tent and said with a low bow: “Thank you, your honor! God reward you for your virtue. I will never forget your mercies." - He went in his direction, and I went further, not paying attention to Savelich’s annoyance, and soon forgot about yesterday’s blizzard, about my counselor and about the hare’s sheepskin coat.
Arriving in Orenburg, I went straight to the general. I saw a man who was tall, but already hunched over with old age. His long hair was completely white. The old, faded uniform resembled a warrior from the time of Anna Ioannovna, and his speech was strongly reminiscent of a German accent. I gave him a letter from my father. At his name, he looked at me quickly: “My dear!” - he said. - How long ago, it seems, Andrei Petrovich was even younger than your age, and now he has such a hammer ear! Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!” He opened the letter and began to read it in a low voice, making his comments. “Dear Sir Andrei Karlovich, I hope that your Excellency”... What kind of ceremony is this? Ugh, how inappropriate he is! Of course: discipline is the first thing, but is this how they write to the old comrade?.. “Your Excellency has not forgotten”... um... “and... when... the late Field Marshal Min... campaign... also... Karolinka”... Ehe, brooder! So he still remembers our old pranks? “Now about the matter... I’ll bring my rake to you”... um... “keep a tight rein”... What are mittens? This must be a Russian proverb... What does “handle with gloves” mean?” – he repeated, turning to me.
“This means,” I answered him with an air as innocent as possible, “to treat him kindly, not too strictly, to give him more freedom, to keep a tight rein.”
“Hm, I understand... “and don’t give him free rein” - no, apparently, Yesha’s mittens mean the wrong thing... “At the same time... his passport”... Where is he? And, here... “write off to Semyonovsky”... Okay, okay: everything will be done... “Allow yourself to be embraced without rank and... by an old comrade and friend” - ah! finally I guessed... and so on and so forth... Well, father,” he said, having read the letter and putting my passport aside, “everything will be done: you will be transferred as an officer to the *** regiment, and so as not to waste time, then tomorrow go to the Belogorsk fortress, where you will be in the team of Captain Mironov, a kind and honest man. There you will be in real service, you will learn discipline. There is nothing for you to do in Orenburg; distraction is harmful to a young person. And today you are welcome to dine with me.”
“It’s not getting any easier hour by hour! - I thought to myself, - what did it serve me that even in my mother’s womb I was already a guard sergeant! Where has this got me? To the *** regiment and to a remote fortress on the border of the Kyrgyz-Kaisak steppes!..” I dined with Andrei Karlovich, the three of us with his old adjutant. Strict German economy reigned at his table, and I think that the fear of sometimes seeing an extra guest at his single meal was partly the reason for my hasty removal to the garrison. The next day I said goodbye to the general and went to my destination.
“If only he were a guard captain tomorrow.”
- That’s not necessary; let him serve in the army.
- Well said! let him push...
………………………………………………………
Who's his father?
My father, Andrei Petrovich Grinev, in his youth served under Count Minich and retired as prime minister in 17.... Since then, he lived in his Simbirsk village, where he married the girl Avdotya Vasilievna Yu., the daughter of a poor nobleman there. There were nine of us children. All my brothers and sisters died in infancy.
Mother was still pregnant with me, as I had already been enlisted in the Semenovsky regiment as a sergeant, by the grace of Guard Major Prince B., a close relative of ours. If, more than anything else, mother had given birth to a daughter, then the father would have announced the death of the sergeant who had not appeared, and that would have been the end of the matter. I was considered on leave until I finished my studies. At that time, we were not brought up in the traditional way. From the age of five I was given into the hands of the eager Savelich, who was granted my uncle status for his sober behavior. Under his supervision, in my twelfth year, I learned Russian literacy and could very sensibly judge the properties of a greyhound dog. At this time, the priest hired a Frenchman for me, Monsieur Beaupré, who was discharged from Moscow along with a year's supply of wine and Provençal oil. Savelich did not like his arrival very much. “Thank God,” he grumbled to himself, “it seems the child is washed, combed, and fed. Where should we spend extra money and hire monsieur, as if our people were gone!”
Beaupre was a hairdresser in his homeland, then a soldier in Prussia, then he came to Russia pour être outchitel, not really understanding the meaning of this word. He was a kind fellow, but flighty and dissolute to the extreme. His main weakness was his passion for the fair sex; Often, for his tenderness, he received pushes, from which he groaned for whole days. Moreover, he was not (as he put it) and the enemy of the bottle, that is (speaking in Russian) he liked to take a sip too much. But since we only served wine at dinner, and then only in small glasses, and the teachers usually carried it around, my Beaupre very soon got used to the Russian liqueur and even began to prefer it to the wines of his fatherland, as it was much healthier for the stomach. We hit it off immediately, and although he was contractually obligated to teach me in French, German and all sciences, but he preferred to quickly learn from me how to chat in Russian, and then each of us went about our own business. We lived in perfect harmony. I didn't want any other mentor. But soon fate separated us, and for this reason.
The washerwoman Palashka, a fat and pockmarked girl, and the crooked cowwoman Akulka somehow agreed at the same time to throw themselves at mother’s feet, blaming themselves for their criminal weakness and complaining with tears about the monsieur who had seduced their inexperience. Mother didn’t like to joke about this and complained to the priest. His reprisal was short. He immediately demanded the Frenchman's channel. They reported that Monsieur was giving me his lesson. Father went to my room. At this time, Beaupre was sleeping on the bed in the sleep of innocence. I was busy with business. You need to know that a geographical map was issued for me from Moscow. It hung on the wall without any use and had long tempted me with the width and goodness of the paper. I decided to make snakes out of it and, taking advantage of Beaupre’s sleep, I set to work. Father came in at the same time as I was adjusting the bast tail to the Cape of Good Hope. Seeing my exercises in geography, the priest pulled me by the ear, then ran up to Beaupre, woke him up very carelessly and began to shower him with reproaches. Beaupre, in confusion, wanted to get up but could not: the unfortunate Frenchman was dead drunk. Seven troubles, one answer. Father lifted him out of bed by the collar, pushed him out of the door and drove him out of the yard that same day, to Savelich’s indescribable joy. That was the end of my upbringing.
I lived as a teenager, chasing pigeons and playing leapfrog with the yard boys. Meanwhile, I was sixteen years old. Then my fate changed.
One autumn, my mother was making honey jam in the living room, and I, licking my lips, looked at the seething foam. Father at the window was reading the Court Calendar, which he receives every year. This book always had a strong influence on him: he never re-read it without special participation, and reading this always produced in him an amazing excitement of bile. Mother, who knew by heart all his habits and customs, always tried to shove the unfortunate book as far away as possible, and thus the Court Calendar did not catch his eye sometimes for entire months. But when he found it by chance, he would not let it out of his hands for hours at a time. So, the priest read the Court Calendar, occasionally shrugging his shoulders and repeating in a low voice: “Lieutenant General!.. He was a sergeant in my company!.. He was a holder of both Russian orders!.. How long ago have we…” Finally, the priest threw the calendar on the sofa and plunged into reverie, which did not bode well.
Suddenly he turned to his mother: “Avdotya Vasilyevna, how old is Petrusha?”
“Yes, now I’m seventeen years old,” answered my mother. “Petrusha was born in the same year that Aunt Nastasya Gerasimovna became sad, and when else...
“Okay,” interrupted the priest, “it’s time for him to go into service. It’s enough for him to run around the maidens and climb dovecotes.”
The thought of imminent separation from me struck my mother so much that she dropped the spoon into the saucepan and tears streamed down her face. On the contrary, it is difficult to describe my admiration. The thought of service merged in me with thoughts of freedom, of the pleasures of St. Petersburg life. I imagined myself as a guard officer, which, in my opinion, was the height of human well-being.
Father did not like to change his intentions or postpone their implementation. The day for my departure was set. The day before, the priest announced that he intended to write with me to my future boss, and demanded pen and paper.
“Don’t forget, Andrei Petrovich,” said mother, “to bow to Prince B. for me; I, they say, hope that he will not abandon Petrusha with his favors.
- What nonsense! - answered the priest, frowning. - Why on earth would I write to Prince B.?
- But you said that you would like to write to Petrusha’s boss.
- Well, what’s there?
- But the chief Petrushin is Prince B. After all, Petrusha is enrolled in the Semenovsky regiment.
- Recorded by! Why do I care that it’s recorded? Petrusha will not go to St. Petersburg. What will he learn while serving in St. Petersburg? hang out and hang out? No, let him serve in the army, let him pull the strap, let him smell gunpowder, let him be a soldier, not a chamaton. Enlisted in the Guard! Where is his passport? give it here.
Mother found my passport, which was kept in her box along with the shirt in which I was baptized, and handed it to the priest with a trembling hand. Father read it with attention, placed it on the table in front of him and began his letter.
Curiosity tormented me: where are they sending me, if not to St. Petersburg? I didn’t take my eyes off Father’s pen, which was moving quite slowly. Finally he finished, sealed the letter in the same bag with his passport, took off his glasses and, calling me, said: “Here is a letter for you to Andrei Karlovich R., my old comrade and friend. You are going to Orenburg to serve under his command.”
So, all my bright hopes were dashed! Instead of a cheerful life in St. Petersburg, boredom awaited me in a remote and remote place. The service, which I had been thinking about with such delight for a minute, seemed to me like a grave misfortune. But there was no point in arguing! The next day, in the morning, a road wagon was brought to the porch; They packed it with a suitcase, a cellar with a tea set, and bundles of buns and pies, the last signs of home pampering. My parents blessed me. Father told me: “Goodbye, Peter. Serve faithfully to whom you pledge allegiance; obey your superiors; Don’t chase their affection; don’t ask for service; do not dissuade yourself from serving; and remember the proverb: take care of your dress again, but take care of your honor from a young age.” Mother, in tears, ordered me to take care of my health and Savelich to look after the child. They put a hare sheepskin coat on me, and a fox fur coat on top. I got into the wagon with Savelich and set off on the road, shedding tears.
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