Who is Damu Anna, and why is his story introduced at the end of Chapter 25?

As presented in Chapter 25, Damu Anna was a well-to-do person from Ahmednagar, specifically a wealthy Kasar (bronze-smith), who was a devout follower of Sai Baba. His story is introduced to serve as a concrete example of Sai Baba's love for His devotees. The author sets up his narrative by stating that once one-pointed faith is established, Sai wards off all misfortunes and grants the desired objects of that devotee. The chapter promises that listening to the "novel story" of this great devotee will fill the listeners' hearts with joy and demonstrate how the "Guru-Mother is an 'Ocean of Mercy.'" Therefore, Damu Anna's account is used to illustrate the principles of faith and grace discussed earlier in the chapter.