Life, 1921-11-03 · page 15 of 34
Life — November 3, 1921 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a poem titled "My Little Truant Heart" by Mabel Cleland Ludlum, accompanied by an illustration showing two small figures standing beneath large dark trees, gazing at a starry sky. The poem is not satirical or political. Rather, it's a sentimental piece about protecting one's heart—the speaker builds a "little house" for their heart to keep it safe from others' influences. The narrative describes how the speaker's heart "advanced / Without a stitch of clothes" when meeting another person, suggesting vulnerability despite protective intentions. The illustration reinforces this romantic, nostalgic mood through its dreamy, nighttime landscape. This appears to be a literary/arts feature rather than political satire or cartooning.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
built for mea little house Amidst a garden fair, I shut my little heart within And planned to leave it there. “Now other people lose their hearts, But I am wise,” I said; “Till take away its little clothes And keep it safe in bed.” On going out one afternoon To gossip and to tea, 1 made quite sure my heart was safe And then I turned the key. My Little Truant Heart The other folks had brought their hearts Dressed up in colors gay, And some of them were acting in An unbecoming way. I thought about my little heart, At home, tucked safe in bed, I smiled a most superior smile, And then—I turned my head. Along the open road to us, As dewy as a rose, My little truant heart advanced Without a stitch of clothes ! His hand was holding by the hand A big heart, strong and tall, A gallant heart, a handsome heart, Who heard my small heart's call. We've built for them a little house, Amidst a garden fair, We've placed our little hearts within And plan to keep them there. For now they are together, We know they will be good, But how my little heart got out T've never understood. Mabel Cleland Ludlum comicbooks.com