In the short story "My Mother", the mother tells her daughter the reason she is sad is:

Choose the best answer from the options below:
A the white man stole their Indian land and drove them away
B the water they must use from the river is not fit to drink
C her husband learned to drink alcohol from the white man
D her children are growing up without knowing Indian ways

C her husband learned to drink alcohol from the white man

To determine the reason why the mother is sad in the short story "My Mother," we need to analyze the options provided:

A. The white man stole their Indian land and drove them away.
B. The water they must use from the river is not fit to drink.
C. Her husband learned to drink alcohol from the white man.
D. Her children are growing up without knowing Indian ways.

Based on these options, it is most likely that the reason the mother is sad is a combination of options A and D. The narrative suggests that the white man's actions, specifically stealing their Indian land and driving them away, have resulted in the family's disconnection from their Indian heritage. As a consequence, the mother is saddened by the fact that her children are growing up without knowing Indian ways. Therefore, the best answer would be D: her children are growing up without knowing Indian ways.