What were the working conditions like at the tavern in the book Lyddie?

Lyddie does not enjoy working at the tavern because the mistress is mean to her.

When Lyddie’s mother leaves the farm, Lyddie and her little brother Charlie try to keep it going.  Her mother, staying at Lyddie’s uncles, lets Lyddie know that she is going to lease out the land to pay off debts.  She leases her children too.  Mrs. Worthen arranges for Lyddie to work at Cutler’s tavern and Charlie at a mill.

Lyddie...

Lyddie does not enjoy working at the tavern because the mistress is mean to her.

When Lyddie’s mother leaves the farm, Lyddie and her little brother Charlie try to keep it going.  Her mother, staying at Lyddie’s uncles, lets Lyddie know that she is going to lease out the land to pay off debts.  She leases her children too.  Mrs. Worthen arranges for Lyddie to work at Cutler’s tavern and Charlie at a mill.

Lyddie is not thrilled with the idea of working at the Tavern.  Before she even steps foot in it, she feels like she is enslaved. It does not help that Mrs. Cutler treats her horribly from the moment she first lays eyes on her.

"Well, I've no time to bother with you now," the woman said. "Go into the kitchen and ask Triphena to tell you where you can wash. We keep a clean place here." (Ch. 3)

At first, Lyddie does not get a warm welcome from Triphena either.  She is “as busy as the mistress and not eager to involve herself with a dirty new servant.”

Mrs. Cutler is miserly and suspicious.

The mistress was large in body and seemed to be everywhere on watch. How could a woman so obviously rich in this world's goods be so mean in the use of them? Her eyes were narrow and close and always on the sharp for the least bit of spilt flour or the odd crumb on the lip. (Ch. 3)

The tavern owner watches her constantly, but Lyddie works hard and is determined to stay out of trouble.  She sleeps in a “hot and airless” windowless passage and has to go to bed late and get up early so none of the guests will see her. 

When Lyddie is put in charge of the fire, she sleeps on the hearth for fear that it might go out while she is up in her windowless room.  This causes the cook Triphena to feel sorry for her and they form a friendship.

Most of Lyddie’s chores are difficult.  She has to churn butter and help with the syrup and sugar making.  She never gets enough time off even to visit her brother.  When she does leave while her mistress is away, at Triphena's suggestion, she is fired when she gets back.