The invention relates to a composition comprising a (a) a temporary wet strength agent component capable of forming hemi-acetal bonds with the fibers of a tissue web to provide initial wet strength, subsequent rapid degradation of the initial wet strength when the tissue web contacts water; and (b) a sizing agent component capable of imparting water-repelling properties to the tissue web; such that the strength agent component and the sizing agent component are present in sufficient amounts so that when the composition is added to a tissue pulp slurry during a tissue-making process, tissue made from the tissue-making process exhibits a combination of (1) improved initial wet tensile, (ii) improved decay, and (iii) absorbency.