All alone in the world, poor little Omar went to see the King because he'd heard all his life that the great kind-hearted King always helped any of his subjects who might be in trouble. Omar had brought his pet rabbit, Carl, to show the King but had underestimated how long a rabbit could survive in a canvas bag.
"I'm sorry about your bunny," said the King.
"So am I," said Omar.
"How may I help you?" asked the King. "Other than taking Carl off your hands, of course."
Omar told him how his Momma and Poppa had died and how his step-brother, Grizzle, had thrown him out of his (Omar's) home.
"I would be very grateful if you would boil Grizzle in oil," Omar said, very respectfully, "or have him drawn and quartered, if you please.
"I'm afraid that I can't do that," replied the King, "though I'm sure he (Grizzle) deserves it."
"Then a job would be nice," said Omar. "I'm very good at painting acorns."
"Oh dear," said the King, shaking his head sadly, "I just hired someone to paint my acorns. I'm very sorry."
Poor Omar!
Omar wandered the land, roaming from town to town, hoping someone would have some acorns to paint. And wherever he went, Omar showed poor Carl to the birds he (Omar) met, hoping that they might have some idea how he (Carl) might be revived. The birds said that they were sorry but they hadn't the slightest clue. One wise little woodcock suggested that, given the number of weeks that had gone by and the fact that it was mid-summer, it might be worth considering taking Carl somewhere nice and burying him.