Aleksandr Sergeevich Pushkin 
The Daughter of the Commandant [EPUB ebook] 

My father, Andréj Petróvitch Grineff, after serving in his youth under Count Münich, had retired in 17– with the rank of senior major. Since that time he had always lived on his estate in the district of Simbirsk, where he married Avdotia, the eldest daughter of a poor gentleman in the neighbourhood. Of the nine children born of this union I alone survived; all my brothers and sisters died young. I had been enrolled as sergeant in the Séménofsky regiment by favour of the major of the Guard, Prince Banojik, our near relation. I was supposed to be away on leave till my education was finished. At that time we were brought up in another manner than is usual now.