Q: Way for Mail to Auto Close Original Message After Reply / Forward???

After opening a message, and then replying to it, I would like it to automatically close that original message.  Otherwise, I forget to close them (and why have an extra step for something that shoudl be a preference,) then when I'm shuttling through Mail windows, it's cluttered with old messages I've already deal with, and I must pause to check them out in case they are relevant, then close.  Is there any way to make it do this?  I don't see it in preferences, and I keep checking after updates thinking surely Apple will add it soon. Outlook has had it for years and years. 

FYI, I do know you can reply from the viewer pane without opening the E-mail.  I may try to modify my habits in this way, but sometimes I need the message open so I can resposition it on the screen to reference  / click between other programs.   But of course it's so like Apple to withhold a simple functional preference because they want to you do things THEIR way.   It's the genius / tool combo that's apple's ying & yang.

Does anyone have a workaround or somekind of third party software that could make it do this?  I can't imagine why they wouldn't add such a simple functionality.   Any help or tips greatly appreciated.

Brian