Sentence Combining #11: My Home of Yesteryear

This sentence-combining exercise has been adapted from the last five paragraphs of My Home of Yesteryear, an essay by Mary White, a nontraditional student. After reading the first three paragraphs of her descriptive essay (below), combine the sentences in each set of the exercise. (You may find it helpful to review the guidelines at Introduction to Sentence Combining.)

As with any sentence-combining exercise, feel free to combine sets (to create a longer sentence) or to make two or more sentences out of one set (to create shorter sentences). You may rearrange the sentences in any fashion that strikes you as appropriate and effective.

In the original essay, several of Mary's sentences contain participial phrases. (See Building Sentences With Participial Phrases.) That said, keep in mind that many combinations are possible, and in some cases you may prefer your own sentences to the original versions.

My Home of Yesteryear

Situated on the bend of a horseshoe-shaped dirt road that intersects a back country highway is the place I called home as a child. Here my elderly father raised his two girls without the help or companionship of a wife.

The house is set back about 200 feet from the road, and as we saunter up the narrow dirt pathway, lined with neat rows of flamboyant orange gladiolas on each side, the tidy appearance of the small, unpainted frame house entices us to enter. Up the steps and onto the porch, we can't help but notice a high-backed rocker on one side and a bench worn smooth by age on the other. Both remind us of the many vesper hours spent here in the absence of modern-day entertainment.

Turning the door knob and entering the parlor is like taking a step back in time. There is no lock on the door and no curtains on the windows, only shades yellowed with age, to be pulled down at night--as if you needed privacy out here in the boondocks. Dad's big over-stuffed armchair is set beside the well-stocked bookcase where he enjoys passing a hot afternoon with a good book. His bed, an old army cot, serves as a couch when company comes. One lone plaque with the words "Home, Sweet Home" adorns the wall over the mantelpiece.

Paragraph Four


1. A doorway is just to the left.
   The doorway is minus a door.
   The doorway beckons us to investigate the aroma.
   The aroma is drifting our way.



2. We step into the kitchen.
   We are overtaken by the smell of bread.
   The smell is rich.
   the bread is freshly baked.



3. Dad is removing the last two loaves.
   He removes them from the belly of Old Bessie.
   Old Bessie is our coal-burning stove.



4. Dad leaves them to cool.
   Dad leaves them in neat rows.
   Dad leaves them on our plank table.
   The table is homemade.


Paragraph Five


5. We turn toward the back door.
   We see an honest-to-goodness ice box.
   And yes, there's a silver quarter.
   The silver quarter is genuine.
   The quarter is for the ice man.
   He will take the quarter in exchange for 50 pounds of ice.
   The ice is dripping.



6. I can picture him now.
   He snatches the tongs into the frozen block.
   He snatches them tightly.
   This causes tiny slivers of sparkling ice to fly everywhere.



7. He swings it down off the back of his truck.
   It is a chug-a-lug of a truck.
   Instantly he throws his other arm up.
   He does this to keep his balance.
   He staggers with his load.
   He staggers toward the back door.



8. He hoists the block of ice into place.
   He gives a sigh of relief.
   The sigh is long.
   The sigh is loud.
   He drops the shiny quarter into his pocket.


Paragraph Six


9. We step outside the back door.
   We suddenly realize something.
   There is no running water in the kitchen.
   Here stands the only water pipe around.



10. Tubs are set upside down by the steps.
    The tubs are galvanized.
    Here is where most of the bathing occurs.
    The tubs indicate this.



11. A footpath leads us to a hand pump.
    The footpath is little.
    The hand pump is somewhat rusty.
    The hand pump still provides a cool refreshing drink.
    It provides a drink if we can prime the pump.



12. Dad douses its rusty throat with water.
    It gurgles for a minute or two.
    Then it belches back a flood of water.
    It is sparkling clear spring water.
    The water is free from chemicals.
    The law requires chemicals in modern water systems.



13. But the pathway doesn't stop here.



14. It winds on out behind a shack.
    The shack is dilapidated.



15. No imagination is needed to know where it ends.


Paragraph Seven


16. Dusk approaches.
    We must slip around to the front porch.
    We relax.
    We enjoy a country sunset.



17. The sky is absolutely breathtaking.
    The sky has ribbons of orange and violet.
    The ribbons are soft.



18. The sun is ablaze with beauty.
    The sun casts our long shadows.
    It casts them across the porch.
    It casts them onto the wall.
    The wall is behind us.



19. Everywhere nature is praising its maker.
    Nature is singing its night songs.



20. The whip-poor-wills are off in the distance.
    They are just starting their nightly lamentations.



21. The crickets and frogs join in.
    Bats dart overhead.
    They are in search of a juicy tidbit for breakfast.



22. Bats, you see, begin their day at sunset.



23. The house itself joins in the chorus.
    It joins with its creaks and cracks.
    These are the sounds of contraction.
    The coolness of the evening settles around us.


Paragraph Eight


24. Indeed, a visit to the old homeplace brings back many memories.
    The memories are fond.
    A visit almost makes us wish we could turn the clock back.
    Then we might enjoy a few moments of peace.
    Then we might enjoy a few moments of innocence.

After you have completed this exercise, compare your sentences with those in the last five paragraphs of the original text, My Home of Yesteryear. Again, keep in mind that many combinations are possible, and in some cases you may prefer your own sentences to the original versions.