To Al. P. Chekhov, July 1887. Babkino.

1 A short business note from late July 1887, written from the Kiselyov family’s estate at Babkino, where the Chekhovs summered, to Chekhov’s elder brother Alexander Pavlovich in Petersburg. As in other letters of this period, Chekhov addresses him by the joking nickname "Gusev" ("Goose"). The two brothers regularly handled Anton’s freelance business through Alexander, who lived in Petersburg near several of the newspapers Chekhov wrote for.

2 The letter is almost entirely an accounting memo: Chekhov thanks Alexander for forwarding a book wrapper (used to mail manuscripts or clippings), then itemizes his fee from the "Peterburgskaya gazeta" – 393 lines at 12 kopecks a line, totaling 47 rubles 16 kopecks – and asks him to collect and forward the payment. He closes with two domestic asides: the family is hand-rearing a young hare at Babkino, and he sends greetings to the "pups" (a nickname, likely for young relatives or family dogs).