My acquaintance with the deceased Nikolai Matvevich refers to the middle of the 60s of the past century, when he, having finished the course of the Ufa district school, entered the 2nd grade of the gymnasium. We agreed with him on the basis of studying the French language, in which he was not sufficiently prepared, and then remained inseparable friends. Nikolai Matvevich was a very healthy, lively boy, showing great dexterity in games, in which he remained a winner. Very capable, vividly interested in everything, N.M. passionately loved nature and with great interest followed the birds, knowing them not only by their appearance, but also by their voices. Already at this time, he showed a tendency to turn to books for exact instructions, since his home could not help him in this.
Знакомство мое съ покойнымъ Николаемъ Матвѣевичемъ относится къ срединѣ 60-хъ годовъ прошлаго столѣтія, когда онъ, окончивъ курсъ Уфимскаго уѣзднаго училища, поступилъ во 2-й классъ гимназіи. Мы сошлись съ нимъ на почвѣ изученія французскаго яз., въ которомъ онъ былъ недостаточно подготовленъ, а потомъ такъ и остались неразлучными друзьями. Николай Матвѣевичъ былъ очень здоровый, живой мальчикъ, обнаруживающій большую ловкость въ играхъ, въ которыхъ онъ оставался побѣдителемъ. Очень способный, всѣмъ живо интересующійся H. М. страстно любилъ природу и съ большимъ интересомъ слѣдилъ за птицами, зная ихъ не только по наружности, но и по голосамъ. Уже въ это время обнаруживалась у него наклонность обращаться къ книгѣ за точными указаніями, такъ какъ домашніе ему въ этомъ помочь не могли.