Once upon a time in a little town in Ireland lived a poor shoemaker and his wife. The shoemaker knew that because of his failing eyesight and slow hands that he was losing customers to his little shop. Soon they would have no money to buy any leather. Without any leather he couldn't make any more shoes. And if he couldn't make any more shoes then he and his wife would lose their shop and home and have no money for food.

He spent all day working on a pair of shoes. He looked around and spotted the last piece of leather on a nearby table. He stood up and cried in despair. He looked outside a window and saw a rainbow. He whispered in a trembling voice to the rainbow, "Please, oh please, may someone help me tonight."