I don't know but what you're right.

Soft words are good enough in their way, but still they butter no parsnips, as the sayin' is.

John may be a good-natured critter, tho' I never see'd any of it yet; and he may be fond of a joke, and p'raps is, seein' that he haw-haws considerable loud at his own.

Let's try him at all events.

We'll soon see how he likes other folks' jokes; I have my scruple about him, I must say.