The mother catches her son Michael crying at the door and shows him the broken doll—his sister’s toy, now missing a leg. The sister, devastated, has already struck back, and the speaker says she is proud of her for it. Then the speaker’s focus shifts to Michael’s cherubic, tear-stained face and heartbreaking sobs. She doesn’t excuse what he did, yet her sympathy feels helpless because the doll was crucial: the girl’s baby, her only comfort against nighttime fears of bears. So the sister’s retaliation was justified, and Michael must weep. The mood is tender and sorrowful, full of a mother’s conflict—her heart breaks for the crying boy, but she cannot deny that his punishment fits the crime. It’s a quiet, domestic moment laced with moral firmness.
Justice — Summary
Michael, come in! Stop crying at the door. Come in and see the evil you have done. Here is your sister's doll with one leg gone, Naked and helpless on the playroom floor.
"Poor child ! poor child ! now he can never stand. With one leg less he could not even sit!" She mourned, but first, with swift avenging hand, She smote, and I am proud of her for it.
Michael, my sympathies are all for you. Your cherub mouth, your miserable eyes. Your grey-blue smock tear-spattered and your cries Shatter my heart, but "what am I to do"?
He was her baby and the fear of bears Lay heavy on him so he could not sleep But in the crook of her dear arm, she swears. So, Michael, she was right and you must weep.