PaperTigers supports the cause of literacy for children all over the world. The story of Mary Jones, a poor young Welsh girl, whose desire to possess a Bible she could read for herself is a literacy story. Mary was born in 1784 to a family of weavers who lived at the foot of Cader Idris in Wales. Her parents were Methodists — Protestant Christians who believed strongly in Biblical teaching. However, like many around her, Mary was illiterate. It was only through the arrival of the Methodists with their schools that the opportunity was given to girls to learn to read. Once ten year old Mary could read, she wanted a Bible. Bibles, however, were rare, especially Welsh ones. It took six years of scrimping and saving for Mary to earn enough money to purchase one. Expense, however, was not the only obstacle. Bibles were available only in town — Bala, being the closest — twenty six miles away from Cader Idris. So Mary set out one fine day barefoot to Bala on a journey that would become legendary. Mary received her long sought after Bible from Rev. Thomas Charles. Charles was so inspired by Mary’s faith and fortitude that he decided to form the British and Foreign Bible Society, today known simply as the Bible Society, whose mandate it is to make Bibles readily accessible to all.
Mary’s story is told for children in the Bible Society-published Mary Jones: Over Hill and Dale as well as in the book Mary Jones and Her Bible by Mary Ropes. Mary’s walk continues to be commemorated by the Bible Society in the Mary Jones Walk that retraces the steps of Mary’s journey through the picturesque countryside of Wales. How a little girl’s desire to own the book she so deeply loved to read is a truly inspiring tale of devotion fitting for Easter.