Sleeping through the storm

Surface analysis of the Great Blizzard of 1888, which took place March 11-14. Areas with greater isobaric packing indicate higher winds. This remained New England's most famous snowstorm until the Blizzard of Feb. 6-7, 1978.

"A wintry storm's blown over us while we slept.

The world's no worse for it,

Though a storm-window cracked a bit

When it fell down hard in the middle of the night.

All we value most we've kept.

The tree of life is still upright.''

-- From "March Winds,'' by Alfred Nicol, who lives in Amesbury, Mass.