A ten-year old Nikolenka tells of the best time of his life – his childhood.
The story starts with the introduction of his tutor Karl Ivanich, who is a teacher of German. Old and sometimes funny, Karl Ivanich is portrayed with love and appreciation, and young Nikolenka remembers him with thoughts of gratitude and thankfulness. When Nikolenka’s father says they will move to Moscow, Karl Ivanich is deeply saddened by the news, as it means for him that his services are not required any more, but the father decides to take the old tutor with them to Moscow, which brings the old a lot of joy.
The greatest love and the most sincere feelings of the protagonist are addressed to his mother. An angel-like image of Nikolenka’s mother is traced within the entire story. She was a good-natured, sincere and loving person.
Nikolenka’s father is not such a person as his wife, and as concluded by the narrator, he was not completely faithful to her, as often plunged into gambling and led a depraved life. In Moscow, Nikolenka has overheard a conversation of his grandmother and some of their relatives of how miserable and poor Nikolenka’s mother must have been all these years, but she probably just does not suspect of all the deeds of her husband; that’s why does not show any agitation. But later, from her last letter to Nikolenka’s father, it becomes obvious that she knew everything concerning her husband’s gambling, and showed deep regret - not in the fact of his losses or wins, but in his addiction to such a sin.
Living in Moscow does not bring Nikolenka much pleasure, as he is constantly missing his mother. But his spirits rise when time of balls starts. During one of such evenings he fell in love with beautiful Sonechka. Lying late in his bed, Nikolenka is dreaming of how he will spend all his life with Sonechka.
After six months in Moscow, they receive a letter from the village, which informs them that the mother is very sick and there is no hope. The day they come to the village, Nikolenka’s mother dies. Sorrow and grief settle in their house. Few days after the funeral all the family moves to Moscow.
With his mother’s death, Nikolenka’s happy days of childhood are over, and his boyhood starts.
