"In '38, this time I did a job for Mr. Stryker. I went on his payroll at about half the salary I was getting before, to cover what he called Harvest in Ohio"

In this quote, the speaker, Ben Shahn, is reviewing a task he did for a man named Mr. Stryker in 1938. He mentions that he was worked with at a lower wage than what he was formerly making, however this was to cover a particular task that Mr. Stryker described as "Harvest in Ohio." This might recommend that the job involved taking a trip to Ohio to complete some sort of agricultural work, potentially related to the harvest season. The reality that the speaker took a pay cut for this task shows his devotion and willingness to handle new challenges. It also highlights the financial struggles of the time period, as many people wanted to accept lower paying jobs in order to make ends meet.